Taiwan's ruling Kuomintang (KMT) has officially endorsed wildcard candidate Hung Hsiu-chu to run for president next year, as the deeply divided party faces a battle to regain public support.

Known as "xiao-la-jiao" or "little hot pepper" for her straight-talking style, Ms Hung's conservative pro-China views fly in the face of voter sentiment as fears grow over increased Beijing influence.

Concern about the island's warming ties with China was one reason behind the Beijing-friendly KMT's rout in November local elections, a barometer for the presidential vote next January.

With the party tipped for another defeat, KMT stars have sat on the sidelines, leaving unlikely Ms Hung as the only candidate.

She was endorsed to applause and a standing ovation at a KMT party congress in Taipei, the final rubber stamp after the standing committee backed her last month.

Taiwan under KMT president Ma Ying-jeou has expanded the island's pro-China policies too far, say voters. ( Reuters: Reinhard Krause )

"As long as we stand together, we can win the election," Ms Hung said, in a week which saw five KMT legislators who had criticised the party expelled.

She sought to allay fears over her China policy which has even alienated some in her own party, taking a more moderate line.

"We will bear people's opinions in mind and give priority to Taiwan's interests, and continue fighting for the peaceful development of both sides," she said.

Ms Hung will take on Tsai Ing-wen, chairwoman of the Beijing-sceptic opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), with Taiwan's China policy at the heart of the duel.

Taiwan on track for first female president

Other candidates are also set to enter the race but the two women from the nation's major political parties are currently the major contenders, with the veteran Ms Tsai the clear favourite.

If either won it would be the first time a woman led the island.

Tsai Ing-wen, chairwoman of the opposition Democratic Progressive Party, is considered the presidential frontrunner. ( AFP: Mandy Cheng )

Ms Hung, currently the deputy parliamentary speaker, saw her popularity soar after she put in her nomination bid, but it has since dipped on concern over her China message.

Taiwan split from China in 1949 after a civil war and is self-ruling, but Beijing still sees the island as part of its territory awaiting reunification by force if necessary.

The KMT espouses a "one China, different interpretation" model, tacitly agreed with Beijing and known as the "1992 consensus", which avoids a declaration of independence but asserts the island's sovereignty.

Ms Hung, however, has historically taken a pro-unification stance, but was recently stopped by senior party members as the majority of Taiwanese prefer the status quo.

President Ma Ying-jeou reiterated the importance of the consensus at the congress on Sunday.

"We must do everything we can to safeguard the 1992 consensus, which has become the most critical source of stability over the past seven years," he said.

Ms Hung seemed prepared to back the president's stance, saying she would "abide by the 1992 consensus" if elected president.

Beijing will closely watch the presidential vote, with the independence-leaning DPP a thorn in China's side during its 2000-2008 rule.

Thousands of young people occupied Taiwan's parliament in March 2014 in an unprecedented protest against a planned trade pact calling for closer ties with Beijing.

"Beijing is taking a cautious attitude. It has not launched personal attack on Tsai nor criticised her position," said Lo Chih-cheng, chief of the political science department at Soochow University, Taipei.

"Beijing is leaving room to deal with Taiwan's future leader. Anything it does now would run the risk of upsetting [the] Taiwanese people."

AFP/Reuters