Taipei, May 20 (IANS): Leader of Taiwan's pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party (PDP), Tsai Ing-wen on Friday was sworn-in as the first female president of the island nation.

Shortly after Tsai was sworn in as president, her new government, led by Prime Minister Li Chuan took office, EFE news reported.

Tsai has said she will preserve the status quo with China, but that Beijing must respect Taiwan's democracy.

Relations with China along with tackling Taiwan's flagging economy are her biggest challenges.

With regard to possible reactions by China, Li expects Beijing to adopt a gradual approach, "punishing" the island at specific points and awaiting the reactions of the new government to readjust its measures.

"China will not play all its cards at once, not launch a massive punishment, nor in the diplomatic arena, snatching all allies, or on the economy, eliminating the arrival of tourists, nor in the political field, breaking all ties" Li said.

The new president, 59, won the national election on January 16 with 56.2 percent of the votes, handily defeating her main rival, Eric Chu, of the long-standing Kuomintang Party, who garnered 31 percent.