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.
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