Kuomintang (KMT), Taiwan's main opposition party, endorsed Ma
Ying-jeou, a popular Harvard-educated lawyer who favors
reconciliation with the mainland, as its "presidential" candidate
yesterday.
The second session of the party's 17th party congress also
endorsed Vincent Siew as Ma's running mate in next year's leader
election. Thousands of flag-waving party faithful took part in the
boisterous congress to formalize the nomination, rallying behind Ma
in a show of unity. The party hopes the former Taipei mayor can win
back the "presidency" they lost to Chen Shui-bian's Democratic
Progressive Party in 2000.
"I declare here that I run for the 'president' so that Taiwan
can march ahead, so that Taiwan will win for sure," Ma said,
evoking a popular slogan for better economic growth on the island,
as dozens of KMT "lawmakers" and other party heavyweights stood
behind him.
Ma also accused Chen's administration of unnecessarily agitating
Beijing and upsetting regional stability by pursuing
independence.
"The issue of unification and independence has been a pseudo
subject that should be put aside," Ma said. "We should improve
cross-Straits relations so that we can improve our international
standing."
Ma on Saturday selected veteran economic expert Vincent Siew as
his running mate on a ticket that promotes closer links with the
mainland as a way to help boost the island's lackluster
economy.
Ma will face the DPP's Frank Hsieh in what political observers
expect to be a closely contested "presidential" race in March.
The KMT favors eventual unification with the mainland, and Ma
has gained the support of many business leaders who want closer
trade links with the mainland to help bolster their global
competitiveness.
(Xinhua News Agency June 25, 2007)