Taiwanese Cabinet tenders resignations ahead of the incoming parliament

The resignations were submitted in line with Taiwan's constitutional court interpretation number 387 during the cabinet's weekly meeting, the news agency wrote.

Under the regulation, the premier, despite being appointed by the president, is accountable to the parliament and should step down along with the cabinet before the first session of the newly elected parliament, which is scheduled for February 1.

However, the resignation request is likely to remain a mere formality as the island's outgoing leader, Tsai Ing-wen, is expected to ask the cabinet to continue in their posts until the inauguration of their successor, Lai Ching-te, which is scheduled for May 20, the report read.

Last Saturday, Taiwan held a general election in which pro-independence candidate Lai Ching-te of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) party won with 40.05% of the vote to head the island's administration.

However, the DPP itself lost 11 seats in the island's parliament.Taiwan has been governed independently of mainland China since 1949.

Beijing views the island as its province, while Taiwan, a territory with its own elected government, maintains that it is an autonomous country but stops short of declaring independence.

The 1992 Consensus refers to a meeting between Beijing and Taipei delegations during which they agreed to the one-China principle. Beijing opposes any official contacts of foreign states with Taipei and considers Chinese sovereignty over the island indisputable.

(With UNI/Sputnik inputs)