Taipei, June 13: Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen has on Thursday won a ruling party primary contest, setting up a campaign for re-election to be held in January.
According to Al-Jazeera news reports, Tsai’s pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has announced the outcomes of the primary today and the president’s nomination is likely certain to be approved by next week by the party. The presidential polls are likely to be held next year in January.
Taiwan split from China around 70 years ago after the end of the civil war in the region and years of authoritarian rule.
Early in January, Tsai called for international support in order to defend its island’s democracy following the recent threats from China and hoped the international community to take serious steps and support Taiwan.
Taiwan stands the most sensitive issue for China and Beijing claimed it as its sacred territory. Since Tsai, a pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party, took office in 2016, Xi stepped up to force pressure on the democratic island.
Chinese president Xi Jinping has threatened, saying China reserves rights to use its forces to bring Taiwan under the control but however, will assert to achieve a peaceful “unification” with Taiwan.
In a response to Xi statement and threat, Tsai said Taiwan’s citizens would never agree to accept the formula of “one country, two systems” proposed by China. Also, Tsai urged China to consider a “correct understanding” of what the island nation think and said political bullying would not be beneficial in cross-strait ties.