 China state media warn Taiwan president-elect against 'hypocrisy' Beijing (AFP) Jan 18, 2016 - China's state-run media on Monday warned Taiwanese president-elect Tsai Ing-wen against pursuing a pro-independence path and that a formal split from the mainland would be a "dead end". Tsai and her Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) won a landslide victory on Saturday as voters turned their backs on closer China ties. The DPP has traditionally backed independence for the island, but Tsai has moderated its rhetoric, promising to maintain the "status quo". But Zhou Zhihuai, head of the Institute of Taiwan Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, wrote in the Chinese-language edition of the Global Times that if Tsai "parts ways with the mainland, she will go down a dead end". Beijing "will not hold unrealistic delusions" about her, Zhou added, saying that whether cross-Strait relations take "the road of peace or antagonism, it's up to Tsai Ing-wen to make the choice". Although Taiwan is self-ruling after it split with China following a civil war in 1949, it has never declared independence and Beijing still sees it as part of its territory awaiting reunification. Taiwanese support for Tsai and the DPP surged after voters became increasingly uneasy about a rapprochement with China under outgoing President Ma Ying-jeou of the Kuomintang. Tsai wasted no time in warning China that "suppression" would harm cross-Strait ties, in her first comments to international media following her win, adding that "our democratic system, national identity and international space must be respected". In the English-language edition of Global Times, columnist Zhang Hua -- from the same institution as Zhou -- accused Tsai of a "hypocritical cover-up for her pro-independence advocacy". An editorial in Monday's English-language China Daily newspaper insisted that the Kuomintang lost the election due to issues such as rising unemployment and inequality, rather than its Beijing-friendly approach. But it added that Tsai's policy towards the mainland "remains ambiguous". "She has a responsibility to keep the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations on track," it said. China's foreign ministry reaffirmed the mainland's vision of territorial integrity Monday. "Regardless of the changes of Taiwan in the political sphere, China will remain committed to the 'one China' principle and oppose Taiwanese independence," said ministry spokesman Hong Lei. Hong urged the US -- which has sent former deputy secretary of state William Burns to meet with Taiwanese officials in the wake of the election -- to "watch its words and actions" and "refrain from interfering in China's domestic affairs". According to Tang Yonghong, a professor at the Taiwan Research Institute of Xiamen University, Beijing will wait to take its cues from Tsai, once her position becomes clearer in practice. Beijing "has no interest at the moment in showing either a firm or a moderate position, as it is waiting for the DPP's stance on its 'one China' policy," he told AFP.
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Tsai Ing-wen of Taiwan's main opposition party sent a warning to China after a landslide victory to become the island's first female president Saturday, as voters turned their backs on closer ties with Beijing.
Fireworks lit up the sky at the headquarters of Tsai's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) as thousands gathered to celebrate the historic win over the ruling China-friendly Kuomintang (KMT).
In her first comments to media, Tsai warned that Chinese "suppression" would damage ties with the mainland.
"Our democratic system, national identity and international space must be respected. Any forms of suppression will harm the stability of cross-strait relations," she said.
Support for Tsai has surged as voters have become increasingly uneasy about a recent rapprochement with China under outgoing KMT president Ma Ying-jeou.
Beijing responded sternly to Tsai's election, with foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei warning that "the Chinese government is rock-firm and will never tolerate any secessionist activity of 'Taiwan independence'".
In a strongly-worded editorial, China's official state news agency, Xinhua, said the DPP's return to power "poses grave challenges to cross-Strait relations" and had "aroused concerns" about Taipei's relationship with Beijing.
Tsai's victory came on the same day that outrage erupted over the treatment of 16-year-old Taiwanese K-pop star Chou Tzu-yu, who was forced to record a video apology after angering Chinese netizens by flying a Taiwanese flag in a recent online broadcast.
Tsai specifically referred to Chou in her address, saying her case had "shaken Taiwanese society".
"This particular incident will serve as a constant reminder to me about the importance of our country's strength and unity to those outside our borders," she said.
Tsai has toned down the DPP's traditionally pro-independence message to assuage Beijing and calm nerves in the United States -- Taiwan's major ally -- which does not want to see tensions flare.
In her address to media she pledged to "work towards maintaining peace and stability" in relations with China, but emphasised it must reflect public will.
Jubilant supporters expressed their faith in Tsai as she later addressed the crowds, promising to be a strong leader.
"I'm very confident -- we were cheated by Ma's government for so long," said Jimmy Lai, 45.
The United States congratulated Tsai on the victory.
"We share with the Taiwan people a profound interest in the continuation of cross-strait peace and stability," the statement from US State Department spokesman John Kirby said.
British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond also congratulated Tsai and said he hoped Taiwan and China would "continue their dialogue to resolve differences and maintain the recent trend of constructive relations".
Tsai remains president-elect until she takes office on May 20.
- KMT disaster -
Tsai secured 56.12 percent of the vote, according to the Central Election Commission, with Chu on 31.04 percent.
It was by far the biggest mandate ever won by a DPP president.
KMT candidate Eric Chu called the defeat "an unprecedented drastic change for the KMT" as the party also lost control of the legislature for the first time.
"This is a stunning result that completely overturns the history of Taiwanese elections. Never before has the DPP got anywhere near such a level in national elections," said Jonathan Sullivan, professor of Contemporary Chinese Studies at the University of Nottingham.
Analysts said ties with Beijing would inevitably cool as China watches Tsai closely.
"Cross-strait ties will be slowing in the near term as Beijing considers her to be independence-leaning. Future developments will depend on her actions," said Li Fei of the Taiwan Research Institute of China's Xiamen University.
Tsai disappeared from China's most popular social network following her victory, with censors working swiftly to block searches for "Tsai Ing-wen" and "Taiwan elections" on the Twitter-like Weibo network.
Although Taiwan is self-ruling after it split with China following a civil war in 1949, it has never declared independence and Beijing still sees it as part of its territory awaiting reunification.
Ma has overseen a dramatic rapprochement with China since coming to power in 2008 culminating in a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in November.
Yet despite more than 20 deals and a tourist boom, closer ties have exacerbated fears that China is eroding Taiwan's sovereignty by making it economically dependent.
Low salaries and high housing prices are also riling voters who feel they have not benefited from the warming relations.
Beijing has warned it will not deal with any leader who does not recognise the "one China" principle, part of a tacit agreement between Beijing and the KMT known as the "1992 consensus" which is the bedrock of the rapprochement.
The DPP has never recognised the consensus.
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