Pro-Independence Party Claims Victory In Taiwan

THE PRO-INDEPENDENCE Democratic Progressive Party declared victory today in Taiwan's presidential elections for its candidate Chen Shui-Bian as voters defied warnings of war from arch rival China.

After 78.5 per cent of the vote had been counted Chen had won 41.1 per cent. Independent James Soong had 35.1 per cent and Lien Chan of the ruling Kuomintang trailed at 22.9 per cent, Formosa television said.

China views Taiwan as a rebel province and ahead of the vote repeatedly warned Taiwanese not to vote for independence and specifically said not to vote for Chen. Beijing also threatened it would wage war if Taiwan dragged its feet over reunification.

 

The two sides have been split since Mao Zedong's communist forces drove the nationalist Kumomintang to the Island in 1949 at least 100,000 people packed the streets outside the DPP headquarters where party leaders were making victory speeches.

Chen was inside the building with senior DPP officials after the elections, which appeared to have upset the 50-year status quo which has governed delicate cross-strait ties. Pre-election polls had showed the race was too close to call but Chen looked to be heading for a convincing victory today.

The nationalist party has been unable to deliver on public calls for reform and clean government in the island which split from mainland China in 1949 after a bitter civil war. China views taiwan as a rebel province awaiting reunification, but Taiwanese prefer the status quo, a self-ruled democracy but not officially independent.

Ahead of the vote, Beijing stepped up warnings to Taiwan saying if it dragged its heels over reunification talks it would face war. It has also sought to sway voters away from the pro-independence Chen, and reiterated it will never tolerate independence for the island.

China's huge People's Liberation Army (PLA) has vowed it is ready for any eventuality, and although military analysts have dismissed the threats as sabre-rattling, Taiwan has put its military on a 39-hour state of "heightened alertness".