Taiwanese president's second term victory signals strong voter support for independence from China

Taiwan's president Tsai Ing-wen has won a second term in office, signalling strong voter support for her tough stance against China.

Opposition candidate Han Kuo-yu has conceded defeat to incumbent Tsai Ing-wen in the Taiwan presidential election.

Mr Han, of the right-wing pro-China Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), told supporters in the southern city of Kaohsiung, where he is mayor, that he had congratulated Ms Tsai in a telephone call.

"I totally accept the election results... Tomorrow, I hope to see a united Taiwan," Mr Han said on Saturday (local time).

Ms Tsai, of the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) said Taiwan was showing the world how much its citizens cherished their free, democratic way of life.

Television station estimates of the final results, which have yet to be declared, were 7.99 million votes, or 57.24 percent for Ms Tsai, 5.37 million votes – or 38.52 percent – for Mr Han, and 590,000 votes, or 4.24 percent, for the third candidate, James Soong of the conservative People First Party.