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Taiwan nationalists celebrate vote victory
2008-01-13
Taiwan's nationalists on Sunday celebrated their landslide win in legislative elections, setting their sights on the race to succeed President Chen Shui-bian, who headed in defeat to Guatemala. The nationalist Kuomintang (KMT), which favours closer ties with China, and its smaller allies captured a total of 86 seats in the new 113-member parliament, to just 27 for Chen's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). A humiliated Chen, who had spearheaded the DPP's parliamentary campaign, immediately stepped down as chairman, describing the result as the "worst setback" in the party's history. "I feel very sorry and I feel shame," Chen said after conceding defeat in Saturday's polls, which came just two months before voters will choose his successor. The KMT won over voters with promises to kickstart Taiwan's stagnant economy and improve relations with China, which have been tense during Chen's eight years in office due to his drive to assert the island's independent identity. Ma Ying-jeou, the KMT's presidential candidate and the frontrunner in opinion polls to replace Chen over the DPP's Frank Hsieh, pledged following the legislative landslide to "push for a peace accord" with Beijing if elected. China regards Taiwan as part of its territory awaiting reunification, by force if necessary. The two split at the end of a bloody civil war in 1949 between Chiang Kai-shek's nationalists and Mao Zedong's communists. "It is clear that people are yearning for change, after eight years of suffering," Ma told a press conference, to cheers from supporters. Ma, a former mayor of Taipei, has pledged to allow mainland tourists to visit Taiwan, and hopes to reinstate direct transportation, commerce and postal links that were cut off six decades ago. KMT party leaders including Ma travelled to northern Toliao on Sunday to honour Chiang Ching-kuo, the son of Chiang Kai-shek, who served as Taiwan's president from 1978 until his death 20 years ago, on January 13, 1988. Chen meanwhile was headed to Guatemala and St Lucia, two of 24 countries that recognise Taipei rather than Beijing. The timing of his departure early Sunday has led some observers to charge that he is trying to avoid the fallout from his party's crushing defeat at the polls. Chen was solely focused on Taiwan's international profile. "China shows no signs that it will ease its military threats, diplomatic suppression and two-handed economic strategy on Taiwan," Chen told reporters at the airport before departing. "We have to step out for the international community to see Taiwan." Latin America is one of the main battlegrounds for Taiwan and China, which regularly accuse each other of luring allies away with "chequebook diplomacy". Eight of Taiwan's former allies have switched their allegiance to Beijing since Chen took office in 2000 -- Chad, Costa Rica, Dominica, Grenada, Liberia, Macedonia, Senegal and Vanuatu. The DPP was to meet on Monday to choose a new leader, with Hsieh likely to assume the chairmanship as he tries to reverse the party's fortunes ahead of the March 22 presidential polls. A win in both the legislative and the presidential polls for the KMT could end years of political gridlock in Taiwan, one of the world's top 20 economies. But analysts said Hsieh should not be counted out just yet. "A lot can happen in the two-month run-up to the presidential race," said Chang Ya-chung, a political science professor at National Taiwan University. "In Taiwan, the situation can change overnight."
Tibet unrest colors Taiwan elections (2008-03-21)No dramatic thaw with China likely after Taiwan poll (2008-03-16)Taiwan nationalists celebrate vote victory (2008-01-13)Taiwan opposition wins vote by landslide (2008-01-12)Taiwan remains polarised after key mayoral races (2006-12-11)
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