If the Central Election Commission confirms the result, it means Ma overcame a strong challenge from opposition Democratic Progressive Party Chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen despite widespread disaffection with his handling of the economy and his rapid rapprochement with China. The candidacy of People First Party Chairman James Soong was also expected to draw votes away from Ma.

Taiwan’s television stations said Ma won about 6.88 million votes or 51.6 percent, with Tsai receiving about 6.08 million votes or 45.6 percent and Soong 369,000 votes or 2.8 percent. All figures still had to be confirmed by the CEC.

Opinion polls in the months leading up to polling day had shown Ma and Tsai neck-and-neck, with Soong averaging about 10 percent. In 2008, Ma defeated the DPP’s Frank Hsieh by 58 percent to 41 percent.

During the afternoon, results broadcast by television stations initially showed a lead for Tsai, but once Ma forged ahead, the percentages stayed

Preliminary results from TV stations showed a clear chasm between Northern and Southern Taiwan. In the North, Tsai only won Ilan County, while in the South she reportedly came first in Kaohsiung, Tainan, Pingtung, Yunlin, Chiayi County and Chiayi City.

Ma appeared at his election headquarters in Taipei City at 20:12 p.m. to declare victory in front of a throng of enthusiastic supporters shouting "Ma Ying-jeou, I love you" in the pouring rain. "This is not Ma Ying-jeou's victory, this is the victory of the Taiwanese people," he said.

The president interpreted his apparent victory as encouragement to continue on the path he began.

Relations with “China will be even more harmonious, we need sustainable peaceful environment,” he said.

Turning to the opposition, he said he had heard their criticisms and would evaluate their ideas despite their different angle. He said he would invite the opposition leaders once every six months and evaluate which of their policies he could apply. Each month he would also sit down with social groups, he said.

Ma also promised an expansion of international activities and ended his speech with thanks to prominent KMT leaders and to his wife.

Minutes later, Tsai accepted her defeat and told an international news conference that her campaign had lacked resources. She offered her resignation as chairwoman of the DPP to take responsibility.

During a campaign dominated by economic and social issues, Ma faced blame for high unemployment, the widening gap between rich and poor, and waste of public money on prestige projects. The DPP said he was sacrificing Taiwan’s sovereignty for the sake of better relations with China.

Ma, who is also chairman of the ruling Kuomintang, said he could promise more stability during the next four years, more economic development and the continued improvement of links with Beijing. During his first term, the Ma administration signed a ream of agreements with China, including a contested Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement.

A month before voting day, KMT lawmakers launched allegations against Tsai that as vice premier during a DPP administration, she had approved government investment in a biotechnology firm she later joined as chairwoman. Tsai denied any violations, saying prominent scientists had invited her to the company months after she left the Cabinet.

The KMT campaign also kept raking up jailed ex-President Chen Shui-bian, accusing Tsai of surrounding herself with his supporters despite their corruption scandals and court cases.

When Ma, 61, is sworn in on May 20, his new vice president will be current Premier Wu Den-yih, 63. He’s a former mayor of Kaohsiung and also served as a lawmaker.

Final election results were still to be confirmed by the CEC, which predicted final figures would be available by 10 p.m.