Defending champions China lived up to their expectation as they defended the Asian soccer title with a 3-0 win over Chinese Taipei on Sunday at the 12th Asian Women's Football Championship .

With the presents of 7,000 audience at the Panaad Sports Complex, China virtually claimed the title in the first half when the Chinese women scored the three goals in the first 45 minutes of the last game of the two-week, 15-team competition.

The Chinese settled the issue on their only way as they dictated the tempo from the start to the end to secure their seventh straight Asian crown.

The runners-up of the World Cup in the United States will go home with 50,000 US dollars bonus, and star midfielder Wen Lirong was voted the Most Valuable Player of the tournament.

A check of 25,000 dollars went to the pocket of the outclassed Chinese Taipei team, who ruled the first three editions of this event before China joined in the biannual event in 1986.

DPR Korea salvaged third place with a scrambling 3-2 win over Japan earlier on Sunday.

There was no doubt about the outcome of the championship match as the Chinese got their act rolling right away as Wang Liping struck with the first goal in the 16th, a 15-yard volley before the mouth of the Chinese Taipei's net.

Skipper Sun Wen acted more of a decoy and let her teammates carry the scoring load, typified by Liu Ying, who was credited with the two other goals.

Liu Ying blasted one in with a sizzling header from the left on a right cross passed by Sun in the 42nd, adding another two minutes later with a pointblank smash off a free kick from the left flank.

The pace slowed down considerably in the second half but the Chinese Taipei could not make any gains over the superior skills and tight defense of their rivals. (Xinhua)