Tsai vows to fix economy, keep peace with China

Taipei

PRESIDENT-ELECT Tsai Ing-wen pledged to overhaul Taiwan's flagging economy and maintain peace with mainland China, even as she called on Communist Party leaders in Beijing to respect the island's democracy and place in world affairs.

Ms Tsai, 59, rode on a wave of discontent with the ruling Kuomintang (KMT) to become Taiwan's first female president on Saturday, a resounding victory just four years after failing to unseat President Ma Ying-jeou. The former law professor and trade negotiator demonstrated the same cautious approach that fuelled her comeback and helped her Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) capture its first legislative majority, saying in a victory speech that, "the energy of reforms will be maximised, while the volatility of reforms will be minimalised".