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| Pro-independence party candidate leads in Taiwan’s election | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| TAIPEI, Taiwan — Pro-independence party candidate Tsai Ing-wen had a commanding lead as votes were being counted in Taiwan’s presidential election late Saturday evening. | |
| The Democratic Progressive Party’s Tsai was poised to become the self-governing island’s first female president. She had about 60 percent of votes while Eric Chu of the China-friendly Nationalist Party had about 30 percent with about half of votes counted. | |
| Outgoing Nationalist President Ma Ying-jeou has served eight years and is constitutionally barred from another term. | |
| The election occurred amid concerns that the island’s economy is under threat from China and broad opposition to Beijing’s demands for political unification. | |
| The outcome of the contest for a majority in the 113-seat legislature remained uncertain, with independents and smaller parties posing a threat to both the Nationalists and the DPP. | |
| “Taiwan and China need to keep some distance,” said Willie Yao, a computer engineer voting in Taipei who said he backed Tsai. “The change of president would mean still letting Taiwanese make the decision.” | “Taiwan and China need to keep some distance,” said Willie Yao, a computer engineer voting in Taipei who said he backed Tsai. “The change of president would mean still letting Taiwanese make the decision.” |
| Reflecting unease over a slowdown in Taiwan’s once-mighty economy, undeclared voter Hsieh Lee-fung said providing opportunities to the next generation was the most important issue. | Reflecting unease over a slowdown in Taiwan’s once-mighty economy, undeclared voter Hsieh Lee-fung said providing opportunities to the next generation was the most important issue. |
| “Economic progress is related closely to our leadership, like land reform and housing prices. People aren’t making enough money to afford homes,” Hsieh said. | “Economic progress is related closely to our leadership, like land reform and housing prices. People aren’t making enough money to afford homes,” Hsieh said. |
| A win for Tsai would introduce new uncertainty in the complicated relationship between Taiwan and mainland China, which claims the island as its own territory and threatens to use force if it declares formal independence. | A win for Tsai would introduce new uncertainty in the complicated relationship between Taiwan and mainland China, which claims the island as its own territory and threatens to use force if it declares formal independence. |
| “This is not about defeating the other party. This is about working to overcome the obstacles in Taiwan’s path,” Tsai told supporters in the rain at a final rally Friday night in front of the presidential office building in the center of the capital, Taipei. | “This is not about defeating the other party. This is about working to overcome the obstacles in Taiwan’s path,” Tsai told supporters in the rain at a final rally Friday night in front of the presidential office building in the center of the capital, Taipei. |
| Tsai has pledged to maintain the status quo of de-facto independence for the island of 23 million, although she has refused to endorse the principle that Taiwan and China are parts of a single nation to be unified eventually. | Tsai has pledged to maintain the status quo of de-facto independence for the island of 23 million, although she has refused to endorse the principle that Taiwan and China are parts of a single nation to be unified eventually. |
| Beijing has made that its baseline for continuing negotiations that have produced a series of pacts on trade, transport and exchanges. Observers say China is likely to adopt a wait-and-see approach to Tsai’s presidency, but might use diplomatic and economy pressure if she is seen as straying too far from its unification agenda. | Beijing has made that its baseline for continuing negotiations that have produced a series of pacts on trade, transport and exchanges. Observers say China is likely to adopt a wait-and-see approach to Tsai’s presidency, but might use diplomatic and economy pressure if she is seen as straying too far from its unification agenda. |
| Taiwan was a Japanese colony from 1885 to 1945 and split again from China amid civil war in 1949. | Taiwan was a Japanese colony from 1885 to 1945 and split again from China amid civil war in 1949. |
| Chu was a late entry in the race after the party ditched its original candidate, Hung Hsiu-chu, whose abrasive style was seen as alienating voters. | |
| China has largely declined to comment on the polls, although its chief official for Taiwan affairs this month warned of potential major challenges in the relationship in the year ahead. | China has largely declined to comment on the polls, although its chief official for Taiwan affairs this month warned of potential major challenges in the relationship in the year ahead. |
| Responding to a question about China’s attitude toward the election, a spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office was quoted as saying that Beijing continued to take no position on the polls. | Responding to a question about China’s attitude toward the election, a spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office was quoted as saying that Beijing continued to take no position on the polls. |
| “What we are concerned about is the relationship between the two sides,” the spokesman, who wasn’t identified, said in a statement. | “What we are concerned about is the relationship between the two sides,” the spokesman, who wasn’t identified, said in a statement. |
| Tsai supporters appeared confident that ties with China would weather a change in government. | Tsai supporters appeared confident that ties with China would weather a change in government. |
| “As long as Tsai doesn’t provoke the other side, it’s OK,” said former newspaper distribution agent Lenex Chang, who attended Tsai’s rally. “If mainland China democratizes someday, we could consider a tie-up,” he added. | “As long as Tsai doesn’t provoke the other side, it’s OK,” said former newspaper distribution agent Lenex Chang, who attended Tsai’s rally. “If mainland China democratizes someday, we could consider a tie-up,” he added. |
| Candidates from across the political spectrum sounded a rare note of unity Saturday after a teenage pop star posted a video online apologizing for having waved the Taiwanese flag on a South Korean TV program. | Candidates from across the political spectrum sounded a rare note of unity Saturday after a teenage pop star posted a video online apologizing for having waved the Taiwanese flag on a South Korean TV program. |
| Sixteen-year-old Chou Tzu-yu, who performs under the name Tzuyu, had apparently been compelled to apologize after her South Korean management company suspended her activities in China for fear of offending nationalist sentiments on the mainland. | Sixteen-year-old Chou Tzu-yu, who performs under the name Tzuyu, had apparently been compelled to apologize after her South Korean management company suspended her activities in China for fear of offending nationalist sentiments on the mainland. |
| Ma, Tsai and Chu all condemned what they described as the bullying of a young girl. | Ma, Tsai and Chu all condemned what they described as the bullying of a young girl. |
| ___ | ___ |
| Associated Press writer Ralph Jennings contributed to this report. | Associated Press writer Ralph Jennings contributed to this report. |
| Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. | Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |