Taiwan's Pro-independence Candidate Lai Ching-te Wins Election With 40.05% of Votes

TAIPEI (Sputnik) - On Saturday, the Taiwan citizens took part in the election of the island's head of administration. Three candidates were up for the job.
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Taiwan's pro-independence candidate, Lai Ching-te from Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), won election with 40.05% of the votes, the island's election board announced after counting 100% of the ballots.
"I want to thank the people of Taiwan for writing a new chapter of our democracy. We have shown the world how we value democracy," Lai said in his address to the voters.
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He also thanked his opponents, adding that he had spoken to them on the phone and accepted congratulations.
His main opponent Hou Yu-ih was a candidate from the opposition Kuomintang Party, who opposed the island's independence and supported normalization of relations with China, but did not intend to discuss the possibility of reunification with the mainland with Chinese authorities.
The third candidate, Ko Wen-je was from the Taiwanese People's Party. He was ready for dialogue with Beijing and maintaining the status quo, offered to maintain peace through deterrence and communication.