Taiwan elected its first female president Saturday, handing her pro-independence party its first majority in the national legislature, NBC News reported.
Tsai Ing-wen was elected over the Nationalists’ Eric Chu. Voters have been concerned that Taiwan’s economy is under threat from China.
The result should be unsettling to China, which may respond by reducing Taipei’s ability to win diplomatic allies and participation in international organizations.
Tsai said her victory showed how democracy has become ingrained in the country and that its people hope for a government that will protect its sovereignty.
