Polls open in Taiwan’s presidential election

Supporter of Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party presidential candidate Tsai Ing-wen attend a rally before polling day in Banqiao district of Taipei, Taiwan, Friday, Jan. 15, 2016. Taiwan will hold its presidential election on Jan. 16, 2016. AP

TAIPEI, Taiwan — Polls have opened in Taiwan’s presidential election in which the island’s China-friendly Nationalist Party appears likely to lose power to the pro-independence opposition.

The Democratic Progressive Party’s Tsai Ing-wen is poised to become the self-governing island’s first female president, returning the main opposition party to power after eight years under Nationalist President Ma Ying-jeou, who is constitutionally barred from another term.

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The outcome of the contest for a majority in the 133-seat legislature remains uncertain, with independents and smaller parties posing a threat to both the Nationalists and the DPP.

A win for Tsai would introduce new uncertainty in the complicated relationship between Taiwan and mainland China, which claims the island as its own territory and threatens to use force if it declares formal independence.

READ: Taiwan presidential front-runner: Can’t ‘be bound’ to China