Tsai Ing-wen has been sworn in as the new president of Taiwan, becoming its first female leader and calling for “positive dialogue” with Beijing. Ms Tsai, seen as an unassuming but determined leader, led the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) to a landslide win in elections in January. The DPP has traditionally leaned towards independence from China, which sees Taiwan as a breakaway province. In the past, it has threatened to take the island by force if necessary. It still has hundreds of missiles pointing towards the island.

Ms Tsai, 59, swore the presidential oath in front of the national flag, before being presented with the official seal. She and outgoing President Ma Ying-jeou then came out to wave at the crowds watching on screens outside the presidential building. In her inaugural speech, she said Taiwanese people had shown they were “committed to the defence of our freedom and democracy as a way of life”.

With tensions rising in the South China Sea, Beijing is keen for Taiwan to be its ally rather than be aligned with rival claimants to the disputed islets in the sea. Ms Tsai’s election win was only the second ever for the DPP – the Kuomintang (KMT) has been in power for most of the past 70 years.