Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou wins re-election

Taiwan's President Ma Ying-jeou won re-election, receiving a mandate from voters that he vowed would spell closer economic ties with China.  Ma won 51% of the vote, compared with 46% for his chief rival, Tsai Ing-wen, after a tense campaign packed with criticism of his overtures to China. Ma had urged voters to see his attempts at rapprochement as a stimulus for the local economy, but was accused of getting too cozy with Taiwan's rival of more than 60 years.  "This is not my personal victory, the victory belongs to all Taiwanese," Ma told thousands of jubilant supporters in downtown Taipei. "They told us that we are on the right track."  Ma will take office May 20.  Beijing applauded the results. "We are willing to join hands with Taiwan's all walks of life on the basis of continuing to oppose the Taiwan independence," read a statement released by the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, China's equivalent of a Cabinet.