Taiwan want re-unification.

[Sharjeel]

Taiwan Opposition Wins Local Elections

By STEPHAN GRAUWELS, Associated Press Writer 2 hours, 5 minutes ago

TAIPEI, Taiwan - Taiwan's opposition Nationalist Party won an overwhelming victory in island-wide municipal elections Saturday, putting it in position to push its agenda of reunification with China during the 2008 presidential campaign.

With more than 97 percent of the votes counted, Nationalist candidates or Nationalist allies won 17 of the 23 constituencies, while candidates of President Chen Shui-bian's ruling Democratic Progressive Party were assured of victory in six, according to results from the Central Election Commission.

The results constituted a huge vote of confidence in Nationalist Party Chairman Ma Ying-jeou, who was elected to office five months ago. He likely will lead the party's ticket in the 2008 presidential poll.

The Nationalists' policy is eventual reunification with rival China, from which Taiwan split in 1949. Beijing still claims sovereignty over the island and has refused to talk with Chen because it sees him as a strong supporter of Taiwanese independence, unalterably opposed to the Nationalist platform of reunification.

With Chen and Ma at the forefront, the campaign has been marked by widespread allegations of vote buying and fraud.

On Thursday, Ma dramatically raised the stakes in the municipal elections, saying he would step down as Nationalist chief if the Nationalists failed to win more than half of the 21 major races.

Ma strongly supported former Nationalist chairman Lien Chan's groundbreaking visit to the mainland earlier this year and expressed hope that he would be the leader to break the long-standing enmity between Taipei and Beijing in an interview with The Associated Press after his election as Nationalist chairman.

In contrast to the Nationalists, Chen and the DPP support strengthening the island's status as a self-governing entity. In the final days of the campaign, Chen repeatedly referred to the Nationalists' China policies in an effort to energize independence-leaning voters.

"The result of these local elections will decide the future of cross-straits relations," he said.

Chen is constitutionally barred from running for a third term in 2008. Premier Frank Hsieh and DPP Chairman Su Tseng-chang were both seen as possible successors, but the poor DPP performance Saturday may well have undermined their candidacies.

After the results were announced Su offered his resignation from the chairman's post.

 

[Sharjeel]

if china does unify. what could it mean globaly??

the States will no longer have a foothold in china, advanced western equipment will fall into the chinese hands. chinese economy will see a BIG rise, chinese militry capability will substantialy increase.

on the other hand. china will not have a goal for which it needs to build up its arsenal. thus they might get a litle more direct in relation to the USA.

 

[Sharjeel]

Taiwan election loss deals blow to Chen

Sat Dec 3, 2:30 PM ET

TAIPEI (AFP) - The chairman of Taiwan's ruling party has resigned after conceding victory to the main opposition Kuomintang in local elections that dealt a major blow to President Chen Shui-bian.

"The contest is over... it is a severe setback for the DPP, also a warning from the people to the DPP. We must humbly receive review the results," Democratic Progressive Party chairman Su Chen-chang told reporters.

"We took six constituencies. I hereby resign to shoulder full responsibility."

The Kuomintang (KMT) secured a landslide victory in Saturday's elections, which were seen as a mid-term test of Chen's popularity. The nationalists won 14 of the 23 constituencies, the Central Election Commission said.

The results marked an increase of six constituencies for the KMT, including in Taipei county, Ilan county and Chiayi city -- three constituencies traditionally held by Chen's DPP.

The DPP only won six constituencies, down from its current nine. The other three seats were won by the People First Party, the New Party and an independent candidate, according to the commission.

KMT Chairman Ma Ying-jeou, tipped to run for the presidency in 2008, said people had handed a "no-confidence vote" to the DPP government, which took power under Chen in 2000.

"This is a victory for the people, for the democratic development in Taiwan," Ma told cheering supporters at party headquarters in downtown Taipei, the island's capital.

"The massive corruption scandals exposed recently have shattered people's faith in the ruling party... the people have handed a no-confidence vote to the ruling party," he added.

While party leaders apologized to supporters for the election setback, Chen issued a statement congratulating the winners.

"I am pleased that the elections were conducted in a peaceful matter. I congralute the winners and urge all to work for the well-being of the people."

Observers said the "China card" played strongly by the DPP in previous elections seemed to have failed to work this time.

Chen, re-elected last year on an anti-China platform, had sought again to shore up support for his party with more rhetoric against Beijing, which considers Taiwan part of its territory.

Oppositon parties, including the KMT, have advocated closer ties with the mainland.

"The 'China card' seems to have losing (diminishing) appeal. People want closer ties with the mainland and peaceful cross-strait instead of worsened confrontation," said political science professor Chen Yu-chu from the Chinese Culture University.

The DPP's support base has been undermined after President Chen's former right-hand man, Chen She-nan, and other 17 people were indicted in a corruption scandal involving a subway project in Kaohsiung.

The election campaign was also marred by wisedspread mud-slinging with many candidates accused their opponents of buying votes with free meals, gifts and sightseeing trips.

By Friday, prosecutors had charged 954 people with vote-buying in a record 320 cases, the justice eministry said.

At stake in Saturday's elections were mayoral seats in five cities and magistrate posts in 18 counties. Elections were not held in the capital and Taiwan's second largest city of Kaohsiung.

The KMT won 50.95 percent of the ballots cast while the DPP obtained 41.96 percent after vote counts at 12,081 polling stations were completed, the commission said.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20051203/wl_as...wN5bnN1YmNhdA--

 

[Neo]

Originally posted by Yahya@Dec 3 2005, 06:08 PM
if china does unify. what could it mean globaly??

the States will no longer have a foothold in china, advanced western equipment will fall into the chinese hands. chinese economy will see a BIG rise, chinese militry capability will substantialy increase.

Its could be revolutional for chinese industry and for its allies like us..

on the other hand. china will not have a goal for which it needs to build up its arsenal. thus they might get a litle more direct in relation to the USA.

I don't think so. China has the ambition to become a superpower meaning huge military buildup which will always disturb US and Japan and counter India in near future.
But relationship with US could and would improve once Taiwan is settled.

 

[kingkong]

TAIWAN must remain an independent
sovereign country and must never unify with the mainland.
The Army of Taiwan can repulse the PLA if given the most
modern military hardware.
Only a war will force Taiwan to reunite with Beijing.