The victory of Democratic Progressive Party leader Tsai Ing-wen in Taiwan's "presidential" election on Saturday may bring short-term uncertainty to cross-Straits relations, but it does not necessarily mean the positive momentum that has built up between the mainland and Taiwan over the past eight years will be reversed.

The peaceful development of relations reflects the public will on both sides of the Straits and has tremendously benefited both Taiwan and the mainland. Any attempt to reverse this trend will be futile.

The defeat of the ruling Kuomintang in the election was caused by such internal issues as administrative lapses, rising unemployment and the widening wealth gap, not the party's mainland policy.