President-elect Tsai Ing-wen spoke to the international media and supporters at her campaign headquarters in Taipei on Saturday evening following her victory.
In her speech, she thanked not only her supporters, but also her opponents.
"I would also like to thank my two admirable opponents Chairman Eric Chu from the KMT and Chairman James Soong from the PFP. I want to thank them for showcasing the spirit of our democracy and letting this election run smoothly," said Tsai, "Although we have battled each other during this election campaign, their critique and suggestions will now serve as motivation for me to work harder and be better."
Tsai pledged to work with the other political parties, and stressed unity going forward. In what appeared to be a nod to KMT supporters, Tsai mentioned Taiwan’s official name – the Republic of China – on more than one occasion. The DPP has often preferred to refer to the country as “Taiwan” in order to distinguish it from the People’s Republic of China.
Tsai also thanked other countries for their concern about Taiwan’s elections. She said that as a member of the international community, Taiwan is willing to work with other countries and to work toward regional peace.
In her speech, Tsai also spoke about her China policy, which her opponents have criticized as vague. She said that she will build a sustainable cross-strait policy based on the constitution, the results of past interactions and the will of the people. She also stressed that both sides have a responsibility to maintain peace in the Taiwan Strait.
“I also want to emphasize that both sides of the strait have a responsibility to find mutually acceptable means of interaction that are based on dignity and reciprocity. We must ensure that no provocations or accidents take place. The results of today’s election showcase the will of the Taiwanese people. It is the shared resolve of Taiwan’s 23 million people that the Republic of China is a democratic country. Our democratic system, national identity, and international space must be respected. Any forms of suppression will harm the stability of cross-strait relations," said Tsai.
Tsai also spoke about an incident involving a 16-year-old Taiwanese celebrity which lit up the internet on the night before the elections.
The celebrity – Chou Tzuyu – who is the only Taiwanese member of a Korean pop group was forced to make an apology video for waving a Taiwanese flag on television and saying she was from Taiwan. Taiwanese internet users posted irate comments after seeing a video of her bowing in apology and saying she was Chinese.
Tsai said the incident reminded her that bringing unity to Taiwan is her most important responsibility as the future president of Taiwan. She said that even though the nation faces many challenges, the election had been a unifying force among voters.