Taiwan's Ma re-elected to second term as president (correction)

Jan 14, 2012, 14:16 GMT

Taipei - Taiwan's President Ma Ying-jeou of the Nationalist Party won a second term Saturday to lead the island territory for four more years.

Ma was winning with 51.6 per cent of the vote to opposition candidate Tsai Ing-wen's 45.7 per cent, with 99 per cent of votes counted, according to Cti News. The winning margin was over 800,000.

Third party candidate James Soong trailed far behind with 2.7 per cent.

The sizable win beat the 500,000 win margin predicted by Ma's own party.

Supporters at Ma's headquarters in Taipei were ecstatic at the news. Thousands braved heavy rain to celebrate the victory.

Ma, drenched from head to toe, thanked the crowd for their support.

'This victory represents Taiwan's continued path to peaceful and prosperity,' Ma said. 'Thank you for giving me another four years to complete Taiwan's needed reforms. I will not fail to deliver for you.'

Ma then pledged to do more to help the poor and unemployed, and protect the environment - points the opposition continuously attacked him on throughout this election.

The feeling at Tsai's headquarters in New Taipei was despondent, with many supporters in tears.

Tsai conceded defeated, and resigned from leading the Democratic Progressive Party.

'I admit our support was not enough,' Tsai said. 'We need to improve on our campaigning and get better at spreading our message. I take full responsibility for the loss.'

The results represented a ringing endorsement by the Taiwan electorate of Ma's rapprochement policy with China, which he plans to continue in his second term.