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Pro-independence party candidate voted Taiwan's president

Beijing fiercely opposes new leader

March 19, 2000
Web posted at: 3:03 a.m. HKT (1903 GMT)

In this story: China's army on 'high alert' China threatened to use force Many young Chinese frustrated with Beijing RELATED STORIES, SITES

From staff and wire reports.

TAIPEI, Taiwan (CNN) -- Undeterred by China's threats of war, Taiwan voters on Saturday elected pro-independence party candidate Chen Shui-bian as their new president, ending more than half a century of Nationalist rule.

VIDEO CNN's Mike Chinoy takes a look at why Chen Shui-bian triggers such strong emotions, and how he has climbed to the top of Taiwan's political leadership. Windows Media 28K 80K Special report on results of Taiwan elections, with reports from CNN's Mike Chinoy and Rebecca MacKinnon (Part 1 of 3) Windows Media 28K 80K (Part 2 of 3) Windows Media 28K 80K (Part 3 of 3) Windows Media 28K 80K CNN's Karuna Shinsho reports that Chen Shui-bian's victory came, despite threats from Beijing and the ruling Kuomintang party that choosing Chen would mean war with mainland China. Windows Media 28K 80K     ALSO TIME ASIA: Exclusive first interview with Chen Pioneer feminist Annette Lu elected aÉ Beijing says Taiwan is its territory, calls for talks under 'one-China' policy Clinton urges new China-Taiwan talks Taiwan's newly elected president makes history CNN In-depth special: Taiwan Decides 2000     MESSAGE BOARD Taiwan statehood?

Features • Taiwan picks a president with China in mind • Lee Teng-hui: A legacy hangs in the balance • Taiwan's neighbors: Keep the status quo • Analysis: After 53 years, U.S. still involved in China's civil war • Analysis: Will China take Taiwan by force? • Analysis: For Taiwan, it's largely local politics

"The trend cannot be reversed. Chen Shui-bian has been elected," Yu Ming-hsien, director of the Central Election Commission, told reporters.

"This is Taiwan's step toward democracy and reform. Our dream will come true soon," Chen said after the election. He said he will work for a government that includes all parties and for "peace and security in the Taiwan state."

Chen's vice president will be Annette Lu, a pioneering feminist and former political prisoner who was a specialist in international affairs as a member of the legislature.

Tens of thousands of jubilant supporters gathered at Chen's campaign headquarters in central Taipei, setting off firecrackers and honking horns.

China, which has threatened to invade if Taiwan declares independence and has issued threats aimed at Chen's Democratic Progressive Party, said in a statement issued by state-run news media on Saturday, that it will wait to see what Chen says and does.

Without mentioning Chen by name or betraying the fact his victory was the outcome Beijing feared most, China's cabinet said: "Taiwan's local leadership election and its results cannot change the fact that Taiwan is a part of China's territory."

"We are listening to the words and watching the actions of Taiwan's new leader and waiting expectantly to see which direction he will take cross-Straits relations," the statement by the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, carried by Xinhua news agency, said.

U.S. President Bill Clinton congratulated Chen and said the election "clearly demonstrates the strength and vitality of Taiwan's democracy."

Clinton called it a "fresh opportunity for both sides to reach out and resolve their differences." He added the United States will stick with its one-China policy and conduct "close, unofficial ties with Taiwan" through the American Institute in Taipei.

Until now, Taiwan voters had been wary about letting Chen's 13-year-old party take control of state affairs because the party's platform calls for formal independence from China -- a step that Beijing says will lead to war.

Chen was coy on Saturday about Taiwanese independence. In response to a reporter's question about the issue, he said, "In the beginning of my election speech, I said the results of the election of the 10th president and vice president of the Republic of China have been announced."

He was referring to the official name of the Nationalist government in exile, which retreated to Taiwan in 1949 after the Nationalists were routed by the communists in a civil war. "As the 10th president of the Republic of China, I insist that Taiwan's sovereignty should be eternally guaranteed."

In the days just before Saturday's vote, Chen soft-pedaled the independence issue, saying he did not plan a referendum on a separate state and that he would not change Taiwan's flag or constitution.

Nationalist candidate Lien Chan conceded defeat. With his head bowed and speaking in hushed tones, Lien apologized to supporters, saying "I've let down everybody's high hopes. I feel very sorry."

Independent candidate James Soong, who split from the Nationalists, conceded defeat earlier.

The final official tally showed Chen with 4.9 million votes, Soong with 4.6 million and Lien with 2.9 million.

Almost 83 percent of Taiwan's 15.46 million voters cast ballots to replace Lee Teng-hui, 77, who steps down in May after 12 years as president. The vote was Taiwan's second direct presidential election.

As Taiwan's Central Election Commission officials counted the ballots, China's nearly 2.5-million-member army stood on "high alert" pending final results. Meanwhile, Taiwan's military pledged to back the new president, regardless of which candidate won.

"On behalf of the armed forces, I hereby pledge to the would- be commander-in-chief that the armed forces will be loyal, make sacrifices and contributions and defend the national security of the Republic of China," Chief of Staff Tang Yao- ming said.

Voting began early Saturday morning. The people of Taiwan lined up under slightly overcast skies to vote, amid a new warning from Beijing against electing a pro-independence candidate.

Chinese newspaper Wei Wei Po reported that China's People's Liberation Army stood on "high alert" and "ready to deal with the existing situation."

"If Chen Shui-bian takes the seat, turbulence is inevitable," Wei Wei Po said. "It will increase the likelihood of our using force to solve the Taiwan question."

The newspaper report was the latest salvo from Beijing in a week of repeated threats, and rising tensions, that appeared to be aimed at intimidating Taiwan ahead of the vote. While some mainland newspapers reiterated China's warnings Saturday, other media did not mention the poll.

Earlier in the week, China threatened to use force against the island, possibly within hours, if it elected a pro- independence candidate. On Wednesday, Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji said that Beijing would never allow Taiwan to declare independence, and that the Chinese were willing to "shed blood" to prevent Taiwan's secession from the mainland.

China, which considers Taiwan a renegade province that must be reunified with the mainland, threatened last month in a policy white paper to attack Taiwan if it tried to drag its feet indefinitely over reunification negotiations. China had previously said it would attack the island if it declared independence, or if outside forces meddled in its affairs.

The initial results indicated Taiwan voters were refusing to buckle under Beijing's pressure, and were again thumbing their noses at the mainland. Voters ignored Beijing's rhetoric during the island's first direct presidential poll in 1996, even though China conducted war games off its coast, which led the United States to send forces into the region.

"Even if I have to go back to the army, I'm willing to go and fight," said a defiant 21-year-old Hsu Shih-yin, who recently finished serving two years of compulsory service in Taiwan's forces. "My mom is worried, but I'm not afraid," he added.

"What's there to fear from the Chinese?" barbecue pork vendor Chau Teh-san, 50, asked before the vote counting began. "We should wait until after Chen Shui-bian is in power before we begin to fear China. I have been hearing these words of terror for many, many years."

Many young people in Taiwan appear to have lost interest in their Chinese ancestry and are frustrated with Beijing's efforts to absorb their island.

"China is like a hungry tiger. No matter how you reason with it, it still wants to eat you up," said 24-year-old Chen Su- lian.

"There is no point trying to drag out negotiations with a hungry China. I hope Taiwan becomes independent in the future," she added.

Beijing Bureau Chief Rebecca MacKinnon, Hong Kong Bureau Chief Mike Chinoy, Correspondent Karuna Shinsho, The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

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