WOMEN TO CONTEST TAIWAN PREZ ELECTION

TAIPEI: Taiwan’s top two political parties have each nominated a woman for president in 2016, a historic first signalling the acceptance of female leadership and kicking off a campaign highlighted so far by clashing views on ties with rival China. The ruling Nationalist Party on Sunday picked as its candidate Hung Hsiu-chu, a former teacher and the current deputy legislative speaker. Hung, who supports friendly relations with China, will run against Tsai Ing-wen, the opposition Democratic Progressive Party chairwoman and an advocate of more cautious relations with Beijing. Tsai leads in opinion polls ahead of January’s election. Ties with Beijing, long icy but cordial since 2008, have shaped up as an early campaign issue.