Chen to lead Taiwan's ruling party

Asia-Pacific

Pro-independence leader's post-presidency plan likely to antagonise China.

Last Modified: 11 Oct 2007 06:26 GMT

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Chen has renewed a pledge to press for formal independence from China [Reuters]

Taiwan's president has announced that he will take over the ruling party after his eight-year presidency ends in May, a move likely to further strain ties with rival China.

The fiercely pro-independence Chen Shui-bian said on Wednesday he had accepted an offer to lead the Democratic Progressive Party's as the next chairman.

His role as DPP chairman provides a firm platform for him to influence party strategy, including the policy on China, ahead of major elections next year.

"My responsibility will be to win the legislative elections [in January] and the presidential election," Chen said.

The DPP chairmanship fell vacant following the resignation of Yu Shyi-kun last month after he was indicted on corruption charges in September.

Chen has been pressing for formal independence for Taiwan, rejecting calls for direct trade and transportation links with Beijing, arguing they could lead to eventual political integration.

UN bid

He vowed to continue pushing for a referendum on seeking UN membership – the latest of which was rejected in September – under the name Taiwan, and renewed a pledge to hold the vote simultaneously with the presidential election in March.

In contrast, Frank Hsieh, the DPP's candidate in the presidential poll, takes a much softer line toward China in the hope of gaining strong support from the island's broad majority of moderate voters.

Hsieh is running against Ma Ying-jeou of the main opposition Nationalist party.

Taiwan split from China amid civil war in 1949, but Beijing continues to claim the island as part of its territory, threatening to attack if the "renegade province" declares formal independence.

Source:

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