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TAIPEI: Taiwan's Kuomintang (KMT) candidate Ma Ying-jeou surged to victory over Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) rival, Frank Hsieh in a presidential vote dominated by concern over the economy and hopes for better relations with China.
With all the votes counted official results gave Ma 58 percent of the vote, compared to 42 percent for opponent Frank Hsieh, of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party.
In proclaiming victory in Saturday's presidential election, Ma told jubilant crowds that the win is a win for hope and a desire for change.
While president-elect Ma spoke to jubilant crowds, over at the DPP headquarters, Frank Hsieh admitted defeat to an emotional gathering of supporters who called on Hsieh not to quit.
"The Taiwanese people have cast their vote and made their decision," Hsieh told despondent supporters of his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), after Ma beat him by around 17 percentage points.
"We accept defeat. It's my own defeat, it's not the defeat of the Taiwanese people. Please don't cry for me."
Harvard-educated Ma had been seen as the frontrunner despite accusations from Hsieh that he would be soft on Beijing, with analysts saying voters were focused on the slowing economy and hopes of better cross-strait ties.
The vote is being closely watched by Beijing and Washington for signs of a new approach in the flashpoint region after eight years of recurring tensions under outgoing President Chen Shui-bian.
Apart from choosing a new president, people were also asked to vote on two simultaneous referendums on joining the United Nations.
The referendum, which asked Taiwanese whether Taiwan should join the United Nations under the name "Taiwan", failed to gain the required participation level needed to be considered valid.
A second referendum asking whether Taiwan should join the United Nations under the island's official name, Republic of China, or any other practical name, also failed to break the 50 percent threshold.
Hours after voting closed in Taiwan, TV stations wre reproting that the favourite Ma, had taken a strong lead.
"We are very hopeful of the result, and we hope that the election will end in peace, reason and victory," KMT campaign manager Chan Chun-po told AFP
earlier.
Over at DPP headquarters, there were tears among supporters and apologies from officials, and former lawmaker Cheng Wen-tsan acknowledged the extent of the defeat.
"Many traditional strongholds of the DPP showed expanding support for the KMT," he said.
"It means people there don't trust the DPP any more, they have rejected our administration after eight years and handed us a no-confidence vote."
Chen formally leaves office as president on May 20 after serving a maximum two terms.
Ma has pledged to work for closer ties with China, including a peace treaty to end decades of hostilities between Beijing and Taiwan.
His victory gives the KMT overall control of the nation after they already crushed the DPP in parliamentary elections in January.
Turnout was estimated at more than 80 percent of the 17.3 million eligible voters. After casting his ballot in a Methodist church building in Taipei, Ma said he felt confident and vowed to engage with China, which claims Taiwan as part of its territory.
He added: "We want to normalise the trade and investment relationship with the mainland as we have done with other parts of the world."
China and Taiwan have had virtually no direct links since the island split from the mainland in 1949 after a civil war.
"I have always said that, if I get elected, I will engage the mainland on many issues, but I will protect Taiwan's identity and also its security," Ma said.
China's military crackdown in Tibet has allowed Hsieh to attack Ma's plan for an economic common market and peace treaty with China, but it appeared to have cut little ice.
"What is happening in Tibet is too far from me and I am not interested in one-China or common market, I just want a better life," said voter Chen Che-yu as he ran to his job as a waiter in a fast food restaurant.
China still claims Taiwan for itself and has threatened an invasion if it declares independence, confining Taiwan to a murky limbo of de facto but unrecognised sovereignty.
Ma has been more aggressive than Hsieh in proposing a radical overhaul of economic ties to allow Taiwanese companies access to the vast mainland market while permitting Chinese investors to pump funds into the economy here.
Hsieh also favours closer ties but is more cautious, warning Ma's plan may engulf Taiwan with Chinese money and labourers.
Taiwan is the world's 17th largest economy, mainly on the back of its information technology sector, but is losing jobs and investment to mainland China, while incomes are stagnant. -AFP/vm/sf
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