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Taiwan's first female presidential
candidate picked
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-13209411
By Cindy Sui BBC News, Taipei
Tsai Ing-wen has led the Democratic
Progressive Party since 2008
Opposition leader Tsai Ing-wen has won her
party's nomination ahead of January's election, becoming Taiwan's first female
presidential candidate.
She topped an island-wide telephone poll of 15,000 voters conducted to gauge
candidates' chances of defeating President Ma Ying-jeou.
Mr Ma is seeking re-election in what will be the young democracy's fifth direct
presidential election.
The race will determine Taiwan's ties with China over the next four years.
Tsai Ing-wen, 54, joined the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in 2004, but
quickly rose to become its chairwoman four years later.
More recently she has been credited with cleaning up the party's image and under
her leadership, the DPP has performed much better in local elections.
A former vice premier, Ms Tsai came out strongest compared to opponents in her
party, in an island-wide telephone poll of potential voters commissioned by the
DPP.
On policy matters, Ms Tsai has criticised the pro-China stance of President Ma,
opposing the landmark free trade agreement signed between Beijing and Taipei
under his rule.
Her party favours, at least officially, Taiwan's formal independence from China,
which still claims Taiwan as a province.
She is not against negotiating with China on economic and other matters, as long
as it does not affect Taiwan's sovereignty.
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