Taiwan Elects Opposition President
(AP, March 18, 2000) Defying China's threats of war, Taiwanese voters ended half a century of Nationalist Party rule today and elected opposition leader Chen Shui-bian to the presidency. Chen, of the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party, trounced Nationalist Vice President Lien Chan and populist independent James Soong as Taiwanese overcame any fears of an attack by Beijing.

Taiwan on Brink of New Political Era
(AP, March 17, 2000) Taiwan stood ready to step into a new political era Friday, but its future course was unclear with no evident pointer to its next leader and sinking relations with a war-threatening China. On the eve of Taiwan's second democratic presidential elections, with China warning it would take the island by force if there was no reunification, neither candidates nor pollsters could predict the outcome with confidence.

Cohen: No China Attack Plan Evidence
(Associated Press, March 17, 2000) Defense Secretary William Cohen said today on the eve of Taiwan's presidential election that he sees no evidence that China is readying for an attack on the U.S.-supported island. Cohen urged both China and Taiwan to end their "war of words" and cautioned that if China increases its military pressure on Taiwan then political pressure will grow in the U.S. Congress for more arms sales to Taiwan. "Then the escalation continues," Cohen said at the Japan National Press Club.

In Defiance of US, China Turns Screw on Taiwan's Voters
(AFP, March 16, 2000) Two days before the denouement of Taiwan's unpredictable election campaign, China Thursday ignored US calls for restraint and dangled the threat of war in front of the island's voters. Tang Shubei, one of Beijing's top negotiators on Taiwan affairs, said Beijing was determined to bring Taiwan back under mainland rule at any cost and voters should understand the island could never become independent.

Taiwan Presidential Candidates Unite Against China Threats
(AFP, March 15, 2000) War threats from China united Taiwan's leading presidential candidates Wednesday, as they told hundreds of thousands of cheering supporters they refused to be intimidated by Beijing. Lien Chan, Chen Shui-bian and James Soong, in a three-way race for the presidency, stressed the island enjoyed "independent sovereignty." Three days before the election, China upped its daily war rhetoric with a salvo of bloodthirsty warnings against the island going independent.

Zhu Rongji Warns Taiwanese Voters Away from Path of Independence
(AFP, March 15, 2000) China made a dramatic entrance into Taiwan's election campaign on Wednesday, cajoling and threatening the island's electorate in equal measure not to choose the path of independence. While Premier Zhu Rongji appealed to Taiwan's voters not to make any impulsive decision they would later regret, China's military hammered out the blunt message that a move towards independence would bring war.

Taiwan Stocks Plunge Before Vote
(AP, March 13, 2000) Taiwan's jittery stock market plunged in a record one-day point fall today, as investors nervous about political change sold shares just days away from the presidential election. The Weighted Price Index dropped 617 points, or 6.55 percent, to 8811.95 as the top candidates in the tight three-way race campaigned around the island in miserable rainy weather. It was the largest percentage drop in nearly a decade.

Taiwan's Open Wallets Bring Fear of a Bought Presidency
(New York Times, March 12, 2000) Taiwan's voters will elect a new president on March 18 to succeed Lee Teng-hui. With the three main candidates locked within a few percentage points of one another in the polls, party officials are girding themselves for another spree of vote buying, and opposition and election officials fear that the practice could play a substantial role in determining the winner.

Taiwan Presidential Hopefuls Focus on China Threats
(AFP, March 11, 2000) Taiwanese presidential hopeful Chen Shui-bian on Saturday reassured voters his election would not spur an invasion by China, while his competitors stepped up warnings that it would. "If elected, I would never put the 'two-states theory' in the constitution," Chen said in the final round of television speeches by the candidates ahead of the March 18 polls.

China Accuses U.S. on Taiwan
(AP, March 10, 2000) China's foreign minister today accused the United States of inflaming tensions over Taiwan by providing military support, which he said emboldened Taiwanese who want to lead the island toward outright independence. With the Taiwanese presidential election eight days away, Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan said Beijing would consider resuming talks with the victor, but indirectly warned Taiwanese voters away from candidate Chen Shui-bian of the independence-leaning opposition party, threatening unspecified consequences.

China's Sniping Heeded by Some Taiwan Voters
(New York Times, March 9, 2000) With Taiwan's presidential election only 10 days away, China has uncorked its vitriol on the Democratic Progressive Party candidate, Chen Shui-bian, calling him a separatist and a silver-tongued liar. To hear Mr. Chen tell it, Beijing is doing him a favor. "We have a precedent here," he said in an interview during a campaign swing that took him from Taipei to this southern port city. "The person China hates, Taiwan voters love."

China's Military Fires Daily Blast At Taiwan, Needle At US
(AFP, Mar 7, 2000) Responding to US concern at the 'cacophony' of threats against Taiwan, China Tuesday fired yet another salvo of vitriol at the island with a barb at Washington thrown in for good measure. In what has become a daily ritual as Taiwan's presidential elections on March 18 draw nearer, Defense Minister Chi Haotian hammered out Beijing's uncompromising message to voters that independence would mean war.

Taiwan VP Says Independence Means Disaster
(Reuters, March 6, 2000) "The Taiwan independence platform will bring nothing but disaster to this country," Lien told a news conference in apparent reference to Chen Shui-bian, standard-bearer for Taiwan's main opposition Democratic Progressive Party in presidential elections on March 18.

China's Army Takes Jab at Taiwan Candidate
(Reuters, March 6, 2000) In a thinly-veiled attack on Taiwan presidential candidate Chen Shui-bian, China's army newspaper on Monday slammed a "prominent figure'' advocating independence and said millions of troops were on alert to smash such moves. It was one of Beijing's fiercest denunciations to date of Chen, standard-bearer for the opposition Democratic Progressive Party, which has traditionally supported independence.

Taiwan's Presidential Poll Campaign Gets More Bitter
(Channel News Asia, March 3, 2000) With just two weeks to go before the 18 March voting for Taiwan's presidential elections, pollsters and pundits alike are still finding it almost impossible to predict the winner. Meanwhile, the campaigns are becoming increasingly hard-fought and bitter as the voting deadline draws nearer.

3 Taiwan Contenders All Urge Reform
(New York Times, Feb. 26, 2000) "The party and the government are like Siamese twins," says James Soong, independent candidate for president, waving his finger with a touch of outrage. "Every Wednesday the party's central standing committee meets to discuss the major issues," he said, "and every Thursday the cabinet rubber-stamps the decisions." Mr. Soong is not talking about the Chinese Communist Party, as it might seem, but rather Taiwan's own long-governing Nationalist Party.

Three Leading Candidates Stress Sovereignty of Island
(Taiwan News, Feb.25, 2000) Taiwan's presidential candidates promised to hold cross-strait peace talks if elected, but said they will not be forced into negotiations by Beijing's strong-arm tactics. James Soong, Chen Shui-bian and Lien Chan all stressed the sovereignty of the nationalist island and said Beijing's intimidation would only provoke disdain among Taiwan's population.

Ties with China Focus of Taiwan Presidential Campaign
(AFP, Feb. 20, 2000) Relations with China dominated the second day of Taiwan's presidential election campaign, as candidates called for better and peaceful ties. In the first nationally televised speeches of the campaign which kicked off Saturday, all five candidates for the March 18 poll called for improved ties.

Scandals, Lawsuits And Close Polls for Taiwan Presidential Campaign
(AFP, Feb. 18, 2000) Taiwan's presidential campaigns officially kicks off Saturday, following months of mud-slinging, vitriolic attacks, scandals and lawsuits among the candidates. The race will feature five tickets, but analysts say it is really about three candidates who are competing for voters who place more importance on image than political ideologies or platforms.

Taiwan Candidate Offers China Policy
(AP, Feb. 17, 2000) Releasing his long-awaited China policy, the ruling party's candidate for president said today he favors setting up a trade zone and reviewing Taiwan's ban on direct shipping and air links with its longtime rival. Vice President Lien Chan tempered his proposals, saying they could only be carried out if Beijing ended its hostility toward Taiwan and responded to his government in concrete, positive ways.

Cross-Strait Ties Return as Main Election Issue
(South China Morning Post, Feb. 14, 2000) Cross-strait ties have re-emerged as the main bone of contention between Taiwan's three presidential candidates. While Vice-President Lien Chan - who is running for the ruling Kuomintang - attacked rivals for jeopardising the island's security, his opponents challenged him for offering nothing original on handling the relationship with the mainland.

Taiwan Leader Expects Deputy to Continue Policies If Elected
(AFP, Feb. 13, 2000) Taiwan President Lee Teng-hui said for the first time Sunday he expected Vice President Lien Chan to continue with existing policies if elected. But his protege extended an olive branch to Beijing, saying he wants to meet Chinese President Jiang Zemin and urge direct trade with the mainland.

Poll Finds Presidential Election to Be 3-Way Race
(CNA, Feb. 12, 2000) The March 18 presidential election will be a neck-and-neck three-way race, according to the results of a new public opinion poll released on Saturday. The poll results show that if the presidential election were to take place the following day, 24.3 percent of the respondents would vote for independent presidential hopeful James Soong; 23.5 percent would throw their support behind opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) candidate Chen Shui-bian; and 23.3 percent would opt for ruling Kuomintang nominee Lien Chan.

Taiwan Politicians Urged Not to Exploit Identity Issue
(AFP, Feb. 10, 2000) Taiwan presidential candidates were urged not to threaten national unity by playing up the sensitive issue of the origins of the candidates. Politicians like to divide people on the island into two main categories. So called mainlanders are those who fled here from the mainland in the late 1940s with the defeated nationalist troops and their offspring. Most others are referred to as "Taiwanese."

Taiwan Candidate's Finances Probed
(AP, Feb. 10, 2000) A task force investigating presidential hopeful James Soong's financial dealings said Thursday the independent candidate failed to report campaign donations and his family's assets. The task force said Soong failed to report $16 million in individual campaign donations when he ran for governor in 1994.

Beijing Wary Ahead of Taipei Poll
(South China Morning Post, Feb. 9, 2000) The Chinese military is targeting more missiles at Taiwan ahead of next month's elections, including a surprise attack on the island should things get out of hand, said a United States National Foreign Policy Committee report carried in the regional Chinese media yesterday. However, cross-strait ties are expected to improve following the presidential polls, as tension starts to ease, according to newspapers in Hongkong and Taiwan.

Taiwan Vice President Urges "Peace Zone" In Taiwan Strait
(Reuters, Jan 31, 2000) Taiwan Vice President Lien Chan on Monday made a fresh proposal to resolve Taipei's political dispute with rival Beijing, calling for a "peace zone" to be established in the Taiwan Strait. The proposal would allow regional governments, including mainland China, to share collective responsibility for peace across the Taiwan strait, Lien said without further elaboration.

Candidate Eases Talk of Independence
(AP, Jan. 30, 2000) The presidential candidate for Taiwan's pro-independence opposition party promised Sunday that the island would not declare independence unless mainland China tried to retake it by force. Chen Shui-bian's statement against independence marked a major shift of the Democratic Progressive Party's stance ahead of the Mar. 18 election.

President Lee Favors Extensive Party Reform
(China Times, Jan. 24, 2000) Su Chih-cheng, director of the Presidential Office, stated yesterday that ROC President and Chairman of the Kuomintang Lee Teng-hui has long considered making the KMT a mechanism for promoting its candidates, and accordingly will emphasize this point in his future efforts to reform political parties. President Lee only has a year-and-a-half left in his tenure as party chairman. Su therefore noted that no matter how influential Lee might be, he will still have to step down from his position as party chairman when his term ends. There is no need for him to relinquish his position any earlier, he added.

Taiwan Candidate Eases on China Policy
(New York Times, Jan. 21, 2000) In a move that could ease tensions between Taiwan and China during the campaign here leading to the presidential election in March, the candidate of the governing Nationalist Party declined today to reaffirm the government's policy of dealing with China "state to state." The candidate, Vice President Lien Chan, said the policy, which President Lee Teng-hui announced unexpectedly in July, merely reflected the reality of relations between Taiwan and China.

DPP's Chen Seeks Treaty with PRC
(Taiwan News, Jan. 19, 2000) Democratic Progressive Party presidential candidate Chen Shui-bian said yesterday he would seek a settlement to cross-strait disputes under the framework of the Charter of the United Nations and consider signing peace treaties with the mainland. Chen, who is widely regarded as the candidate least favored by mainland China, said maintaining stability in the strait will be top on his agenda.

China Issues Pre-Election Warning to Taiwan
(Reuters, Jan. 18, 2000) With just two months to go to Taiwan's presidential elections, China warned the island's future leader on Tuesday against declaring independence. "No matter who becomes Taiwan's leader, it should benefit the development of relations between the two sides and China's peaceful reunification," Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhu Bangzao told reporters.

Lee Stresses Peaceful Transfer of Power
(CNA, Jan. 15, 2000) President Lee Teng-hui on Saturday reiterated his expectation that there will be a smooth transfer of power to the new president after the March 18 election. He mentioned that not only has Taiwan become a democratic country during his presidency, but its economic system has become more open and the protection of people's rights has increased.

Chen Shui-Bian Will Not Declare Taiwan's Independence If Elected
(CNA, Jan. 14, 2000) Opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chairman Lin I-hsiung said here on Friday that DPP presidential candidate Chen Shui-bian will not declare independence for Taiwan if he is elected. On independence for Taiwan, Lin stressed that Chen will not unilaterally declare independence, as the issue concerning the destiny of 2.2 million Taiwanese should be decided through a national referendum.

Soong Announces Trade Policy Outline
(United Daily News, Jan. 13, 2000) Independent presidential candidate James Soong yesterday announced his trade policy outline, in which he advocated replacing the current "no haste, be patient" cross-strait trade policy with one of "positive, active Taiwan leadership."

US Prepared to Work with Any New Government in Taipei
(CNA, Jan. 8, 2000) The United States will work with whoever wins Taiwan's March 18 presidential election and expects bilateral ties to remain strong in the future, said Stanley Roth, assistant secretary of state for East Asia and the Pacific. He said that the United States hopes any democratically elected party or candidate will act "responsibly and pragmatically" to advance the interests of the people on Taiwan and to promote cross-strait dialogue and reduce tensions.

Soong Suggests EU Model as Guideline
(China Times, Jan. 6, 2000) Taiwan and mainland China should sign a 30-year mutual non-aggression peace treaty, to be witnessed by Japan, the U.S. and ASEAN countries. He followed that the two sides could join together as two independent, sovereign states in some kind of arrangement similar to the European Union model. Soong also stated, however, that any final form of integration, or other major decision affecting Taiwan's future, would have to be decided upon by the people of Taiwan.

Taiwan Candidate Urges Party to Give Up Control of Businesses
(New York Times, Jan. 4, 2000) In a proposal that could foreshadow new rules for Taiwan's politics, the faltering presidential candidate of the Nationalist Party has proposed that the party's vast business holdings be placed in a trust and that it end its direct role in managing hundreds of companies in which it owns shares. Such changes could reduce the widely resented advantages enjoyed by the Nationalist Party as it pulls in hundreds of millions of dollars in profits each year and, according to critics, wields its shares in everything from banks to oil companies to secure the allegiance of key groups and individuals.

Taipei-Beijing Ties 'Quasi-International': Soong
(Agence France Presse, Jan. 2, 2000) Taiwan's independent presidential hopeful James Soong on Sunday called for a peace agreement with rival China to promote the bilateral ties he defined as "quasi-international." "If I were elected as the president, I would propose to de-escalate the tensions," Soong said in a live interview with the Cable News Network of the United States.

Taiwanese Pol Attacks Accusations
(Associated Press, Dec. 28, 1999) With the help of his sister-in-law and stacks of receipts, one of Taiwan's main presidential candidates on Tuesday disputed accusations he misused money when he was a top official in the ruling Nationalist Party. The late night news conference was James Soong's third attempt to defend himself from charges that up to $22.5 million from Nationalist coffers were mishandled, with much of the money ending up in his relatives' accounts.

Presidential Challenger Targets China Link
(Financial Times, Dec. 22, 1999) Chen Shui-bian, Taiwan's leading opposition presidential candidate, yesterday announced plans for constitutional reform intended to strengthen the island's new democracy, but which are likely to be considered incendiary by mainland China. In a white paper released as part of a policy agenda for March's presidential election, Mr Chen called for an overhaul of Taiwan's 52-year-old Republic of China constitution.

Money Scandal: Soong Offers Explanation, But Doubts Remain
(China Times, Dec. 15, 1999) Independent presidential candidate James Soong, forced to explain the mysterious presence of more than NT$100 million in a bank account belonging to his son, Soong Chen-yuan, yesterday said that the money was deposited by the Kuomintang in 1992, on the instructions of Party Chairman Lee Teng-hui, and was for him to care for the dependents of the late President Chiang Ching-kuo, as well as for "other party work." Spokespersons for the Office of the President and the KMT immediately cast doubt on Soong's story.

China Frowns On Taiwan Independence Hopeful
(Reuters, Dec 13, 1999) Beijing could not accept a victory in the presidential election next March by Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party, which espouses independence from China, a newspaper on Monday quoted China's envoy to Washington as saying. The China Times said Ambassador Li Zhaoxing told a group of pro-unification Taiwan visitors that "anybody can be elected - except Chen Shui-bian".

Opposition Presidential Candidate Picks Female as Running Mate (AFP, Dec. 10, 1999) Democratic Progressive Party candidate Chen said choosing Taoyuan country magistrate Annette Lu as his campaign partner demonstrated a respect for women and a commitment to gender equality in Taiwan. Lu, 55, had been a noted feminist before turning to politics to push for greater freedoms and democracy under the then martial law imposed by the ruling Kuomintang (KMT).

Gap Between Support Rate for Soong, Lien and Chen Narrows
(CNA, Nov. 26, 1999) The results of the latest pubic opinion poll show that the gaps between the support ratings of the three main presidential candidates, former Taiwan governor James Soong, Vice President Lien Chan and former Taipei Mayor Chen Shui-bian have narrowed.

KMT Expels James Soong
(CNA, Nov. 17, 1999) The ruling Kuomintang's Central Standing Committee on Wednesday approved unanimously the expulsion from the party of independent presidential candidate James Soong and six of his core staffers. KMT Chairman Lee Teng-hui did not comment on the matter during the meeting, and only two CSC members expressed their deep sorrow but full support for the measure.

Soong Name Surgeon as Running Mate
(AP, Nov. 11, 1999) The front-runner in Taiwan's presidential race said today that a U.S.-trained heart surgeon who never served in office will be his running mate, ending weeks of intense speculation about his choice. The independent candidate, James Soong, announced at a news conference that Chang Chao-hsiung, head of Chang Gung University, will join him on the March election ticket.

Taiwan Election Shifts After Quake
(AP, Oct. 29, 1999) Since last month's devastating earthquake in Taiwan, the ruling party's presidential candidate has jumped from third to second place in the race and is close to the frontrunner, according to a new poll.

2000 Presidential Election Not to Be Affected by Earthquake
(CNA, Oct. 21, 1999) The Republic of China's 10th presidential election will be held on March 18, 2000, as scheduled, and the promulgation to officially begin the election process will be issued by the Central Election Commission on Nov. 15.

James Soong Still Leads in Poll
(CNA, Oct. 3, 1999) The results of an opinion poll conducted by the Global Broadcasting Co. showed former Taiwan Governor James Soong still led five other candidates, with support from 28.1 percent of respondents.

Lee Criticizes Former Taiwan Governor
(CNA, Sep. 13, 1999) President Lee Teng-hui on Monday praised the ruling Kuomintang's presidential ticket of Lien Chan and Vincent Siew, but criticized former Taiwan Governor James Soong as "insincere."

Lien Pledges to Maintain Struggle for Equality
(Reuters, Aug. 30, 1999) Taiwanese Vice President Lien Chan on Monday vowed no letup in the island's struggle with China if he is elected president, saying Taiwan's blossoming democracy deserved the world's respect.

Lien Chan Picks Premier As Running Mate in 2000 Election
(CNA, Aug. 26, 1999) Vice President Lien Chan, who will represent the ruling Kuomintang in the 2000 presidential election, will formally name Premier Vincent Siew as his running mate.

Pro-Independence Party Candidate Advocates Nuclear Weapons
(Reuters, Aug 22, 1999) The presidential candidate for a small pro-independence party said on Sunday Taiwan should develop nuclear weapons to counter China.

Lien Chan Receives Overwhelming Support for Presidency in KMT Primary
(AFP, Aug. 21, 1999) Taiwan Vice President Lien Chan received 96 percent support in the ruling Kuomintang primary election for presidency.

Writer Lee Ao Recruited by New Party to Run in Presidential Race
(CNA, Aug. 19, 1999) Much to the surprise of pundits around Taiwan, the tiny opposition New Party announced on Wednesday that it has recruited Lee Ao, a famous local writer, to run in the island's March 2000 presidential election.

Soong Leading Presidential Hopeful: DPP Poll
(CNA, Aug. 18, 1999) Former Taiwan Governor James Soong is leading three other presidential hopefuls in a survey released by the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).

Lien's Take on "State-to-State" Gains Most Public Support
(CNA, Aug. 15, 1999) Vice President Lien Chan's assertion that Beijing's leaders should recognize the Republic of China's existence is the most heavily supported statement on the matter among Taiwan's four presidential hopefuls

Premier Zhu Don Corleone
(Editorial, Washington Post, March 16, 2000) In the common Western conception, China's Prime Minister Zhu Rongji is the pragmatist and the reformer in the pantheon of Communist rulers. Yesterday, in a news conference on Taiwan and other matters, he sounded more like a Mafia kingpin. He warned Taiwan voters to follow Beijing's preferences in Taiwan's coming presidential election--or else.

Making the Best of a Tough Job By Stephen J. Yates
(Taipei Times, March 16, 2000) Taiwan's most competitive and tumultuous presidential election fast approaches. Finally there will be a poll with no margin of error, and for the first time in history Taiwan will have a president-elect awaiting peaceful transfer of power from a sitting president. The world should join Taiwan in celebrating its democratic progress and honestly prepare to cooperate with the people's chosen leader. Unfortunately, lurking behind the glow of this exercise of popular sovereignty are a multitude of challenges created by Taiwan, China and the US.

Crisis in the Making? Experts Differ on Whether Rising Tensions Will Lead to a U.S.-China Clash
(Washington Post, March 16, 2000) When Taiwan held its first democratic presidential election four years ago, China fired ballistic missiles over the island 100 miles from its coast. The United States responded with its biggest show of force in Asia since the Vietnam War, sending two aircraft carriers and 14 other warships to Taiwan. As Taiwan prepares to vote again Saturday, there have been threatening missives, but no missiles; a war of words, but no warships. Yet, senior U.S. officials are bracing for the possibility that Taiwan's election of a new president could bring a period of high tension with China and compel the United States to make difficult choices.

Taiwan's Presidential Election and its Political Future By Lin Chia-Lung
(Taipei Times, March 10, 2000) With a weak president and multi-party competition, a coalition government will be the overall trend. Political figures will provide new opportunities for reform if they can follow the trend and form a stable majority government. But if the new president overestimates his public support base and insists on imposing his personal will, then our semi-presidential system combined with a split government is extremely likely to bring about a catastrophe for democracy.

PRC's Verbal Barrage Takes Aim at Taiwan Elections
(China Times, March 9, 2000 ) After the February release of the PRC's white paper on Taiwan policy, the first reaction of the outside world was that the PRC "was finally taking part in the election." When Jiang Zemin met with Macao and Hong Kong representatives to the National People's Congress (NPC) on March 8, he purposefully allowed Taiwanese reporters to take part in asking questions. It appears this was also a significant attempt to have a say in Taiwan's election.

The China Card a Tough Hand to Play By Julian Kuo
(Taipei Times, March 4, 2000) Taiwan's presidential elections have never been simply two-way races between the KMT and the DPP. Rather they have always been three-way races between the KMT, DPP and the Chinese Communist Party: Beijing has always played a role in the elections. Although it has been unable to sway the election results so far, it has often played a key role in generating issues in the race.

Taiwan's Election, China's Future By Timothy Garton Ash
(New York Times, Feb. 23, 2000) Taiwan was developing its own, separate identity, at least superficially on a thoroughly American model. And it is that evolution, rather than the old stalemate with the nationalists, that makes the Communists really angry. What made China furiously denounce Taiwan's president, Lee Teng-hui, last summer was his statement that relations between Taiwan and China are "special state-to-state relations," implying that Taiwan was a separate state.

Frustrated China Intimidates Taiwan's Voters: Analysts
(Agence France Presse, Feb. 21, 2000) China is cranking up its bellicose rhetoric on Taiwan to intimidate candidates in the presidential elections and because it is frustrated over lack of progess on reunification, analysts say. China issued a new White Paper Monday reiterating its policy on Taiwan calling for peaceful reunification under the "One Country, Two Systems" formula through negotiation.

Democracy with Taiwanese Characteristics By Christopher MacDonald
(Taipei Times, Feb. 18, 2000) With one month to go, the presidential election is shaping into a first-class knockabout contest, a three-way dogfight among candidates who have turned out to be surprisingly evenly matched. Day by day, pairings are formed and then broken as each of the three struggles to capitalize on the misfortunes of his opponents. Calls are already being heard for voters to drop Candidate A in favor of Candidate B so as to stop Candidate C at all costs.

Nationalists Might Lose in Taiwan By William Foreman
(Associated Press, Feb. 14, 2000) Many Taiwanese believe their island is weeks away from a historic event: the Nationalist Party's loss of the presidency for the first time in more than 50 years. But the party might retain power even if its candidate – who has been lagging in the polls the entire campaign – loses the tight three-way race next month to popular independent James Soong.

Taiwan Incumbents Fear End to 'Dynasty' By John Pomfret
(Washington Post, Feb. 12, 2000) With just five weeks before Taiwan elects a new president, the long-ruling Nationalists appear increasingly concerned that they may lose their 54-year grip on power and are warning voters that failure to elect their candidate would spell serious trouble for the island. Vice President Lien Chan, the Nationalist Party's candidate, said today that Taiwan risks "domestic disturbances and foreign invasion" and "immediate danger"--especially from China--if he is not elected.

Reform or Die By Mahlon Meyer
(Newsweek International, Feb. 7, 2000) The KMT tries to beat its dirty politics rap. Is it a whitewash? KMT reformers are already struggling to keep the party together. For decades, the party has been widely viewed to have encouraged loyalty through payoffs, sinecures and business bailouts.

Candidates Play Down Cross-Strait Issues By Goh Sui Noi
(South China Morning Post, Feb. 1, 2000) Taiwan's three presidential hopefuls have de-emphasised the unification/independence issue, as many voters are afraid of armed conflict with China. The three agree that the Republic of China is a sovereign state and emphasise the dignity of the people on Taiwan, insisting on parity in negotiations with China. They also place as priority the security and safety of the people of Taiwan, thus rejecting war as a solution to cross-strait conflict.

Inauspicious Signs for Kuomintang By Jim Mann
(LA Times, Jan. 26, 2000) One of the first big developments of 2000 could well be an epochal change in Chinese politics: the downfall of the Kuomintang, or Nationalist Party. On March 18, Taiwan will hold presidential elections. And as things stand now, the KMT--despite the abundant resources it commands as one of the world's richest political parties--seems headed for a historic defeat.

An Embarrassment of Riches Hurts Taiwan's Ruling Party By Mark Landler
(New York Times, Jan. 23, 2000) Yet the opening of the headquarters in 1998 may turn out to be spectacularly ill-timed. Taiwan will hold elections in less than two months, and for the first time in five decades, the Nationalists are in real danger of losing the presidency. The party's candidate, Vice President Lien Chan, is trailing his two rivals in the very close race to succeed Taiwan's longtime president, Lee Teng-hui.

Taiwan: Ruling Party's Smart Move By Mure Dickie
(Financial Times, Jan. 19, 2000) Darby Liu is very relaxed for a man who could soon lose his job. Mr Liu, secretary general of the committee that controls the business empire of Taiwan's Nationalist party, or Kuomintang, chortles as he notes that he could be the first to be fired under a new plan to place the party's assets under trust management. The scheme, unveiled this month by Lien Chan, vice-president and ruling party presidential candidate, would transform control of the "KMT Inc" commercial fiefdom that has given the ruling party unrivalled resources and extraordinary economic clout.

Taiwan's Course of Development in New Century
(Taiwan Headlines, Dec. 31, 1999) Any attempt to forecast Taiwan's course in the next century needs to be linked to the question which of the three front-running presidential candidates will win the March election. On defense policy, all the three candidates stress the importance of Taiwan's security. But they are divided on key defense issues. Essentially, both Lien and Chen favor Taiwan participating in the anti-missile defense umbrella - known as Theater Missile Defense (TMD) - a project being studied by the United States. But Soong has reservations about such a role for Taiwan.

Taiwan Party Alienated From Voters
(Associated Press, Dec. 28, 1999) Chiao's desertion from his party reflects a popular sentiment for change among Taiwanese demanding a clean and efficient government. Many complain that democratic reforms in the past 12 years have failed to curb vote-buying, cronyism and corruption in the Nationalists' ranks. ``The problems we have today are all because the Nationalist Party has been in power for too long,''

Taiwan Elections Get Interesting By William Foreman
(Associated Press, Dec. 4, 1999) Elections have always been a good excuse for Taiwanese to get a little wacky – staging rallies that rival Las Vegas variety shows, donning crazy costumes and spreading bizarre rumors about rival candidates. Now this island is in the middle of a presidential election that has already provided plenty of entertainment and promises to deliver more as the campaign heats up in the final months.

All Bets Are Off By Julian Baum
(Far Eastern Economic Review, Dec. 2, 1999) For months now, renegade presidential candidate James Soong has held a commanding lead in the opinion polls. Few believed, though, that come election day in March, voters would really turn their backs on the political establishment led by President Lee Teng-hui and actually make Soong president.

2000 Taiwan Election Market
(University of Iowa College of Business Administration, Nov. 1999) Between now and March 18th, 2000, Taiwan will enjoy the most competitive and important presidential elections in its history. By creating a market for the March 2000 Taiwanese presidential elections, the IEM allows anyone interested in the election to track its expected outcome and to challenge their ability to predict the outcome.

On Second Thought... and Interview: Vice President Lien Chan By Terry McCarthy
(TIME, Aug. 2, 1999) Pushed by a testy U.S., Taipei hurries to clarify its leader's startling stance on the island's political status. Many analysts believe Lee Teng-hui's statements on cross-Strait relations were aimed at boosting the chances of his heir apparent, Vice President Lien Chan, in next year's presidential election. TIME's Terry McCarthy and Don Shapiro spoke with Lien last week in Taipei.

Chen Shui-bian: Taiwan's Fate Is Not China's To Decide By Alice Hung
(Reuters, 27, 1999) The main opposition party's candidate in Taiwan's coming presidential polls said the island should be left alone to decide its political future and appealed to the world to respect whichever path it chooses.