TAIWAN — Taiwanese voters young and old hit the polls en masse on Saturday, voting President Tsai Ing-wen to a second term and giving the Democratic Progressive Party control of the legislature once again.<br /><br />According to Focus Taiwan, Tsai received 57 percent of the vote—earning a record 8,170,231 votes—in a three-way race against panda hugging KMT candidate Han Kuo-yu with 38 percent and PFP candidate James Soong with only 4 percent.<br />Focus Taiwan reports that voter turnout hit a whopping 74 percent, higher than 2016's 66.38 percent turnout. <br />The DPP importantly retains control of the Legislative Yuan, which will allow Tsai to continue with her reform agenda. <br />According to the failing New York Times, Tsai's incredible victory highlighted how effectively her campaign tapped into an electorate that isn't fooled at all by China's intentions. <br />Another factor influencing the vote were months of protests in Hong Kong against Beijing's strong arm tactics and encroachment into the city.<br />But by far, the biggest deciding factor in the historic election was the younger generation, who consider themselves Taiwanese, hitting the polls in force. <br /><br />The people have spoken and the message is clear, Taiwan and the Taiwanese people are here to stay.
