Candidates_and_platforms Taiwan_presidential_election,_2000

1 candidates , platforms

1.1 kuomintang
1.2 democratic progressive party
1.3 other candidates

candidates , platforms
kuomintang

the ruling kuomintang ran vice president lien chan president , premier vincent siew vice president. both career civil servants , lien, originating taiwanese aristocracy, seen aloof , unable empathize common people.

though more popular , consistently ranked higher in polls, outspoken former taiwan governor james soong failed gain kuomintang s nomination. result, announced candidacy independent candidate. kuomintang responded expelling soong , 21 of allies in november 1999. common belief among kmt supporters president lee teng-hui secretly supporting chen shui-bian, , purposely supported less popular lien in order split kuomintang, , belief given great deal of credibility after 2000 election lee s defection pan-green coalition, though lee s defection came after humiliating expulsion kmt. soong, mainlander, tried appeal native taiwanese nominating pro-independence surgeon chang chao-hsiung running-mate.

in december 1999, kmt began attack soong s integrity. sued soong theft, alleging party secretary-general, stole millions of taiwan dollars in cash intended family of late president chiang ching-kuo , hid money in chunghsing bills finance co. soong defended himself saying acting under lee s direction, story largely unpersuasive. holding commanding lead in polls, soong lost on 300,000 votes, , financial scandal tarnished image clean politician led outcome.

democratic progressive party

the democratic progressive party ran former taipei mayor chen shui-bian , taoyuan county magistrate annette lu vice president. having run 1996 election on radical independence platform , lost landslide, dpp in may 1999 moderated stance issuing resolution on future of taiwan. resolution accepted status quo , promoted moderate view taiwan independent, formal declaration not urgently necessary, if @ all. included pledge change in taiwan s international status have done through referendum, alleviating fear that, if elected, dpp government unilaterally declare independence without popular approval. chen-lu ticket promised more aggressive in fighting black gold, provide more funding social services, , more environmentally friendly, such opposition nuclear power. last minute public endorsement of chen shui-bian president of academia sinica , nobel laureate yuan t. lee , other opinion leaders thought have played role in election.

other candidates

all independent presidential tickets required turn in petition of 224,000 names central election commission confirm candidacy , appear on ballot.

former democratic progressive party chairman hsu hsin-liang, had quit party after failing prevent chen running, ran independent new party legislator josephine chu running mate. dpp chairman, hsu had moderated platform of party, promoting reconciliation people s republic of china , opening of direct links, move, ironically, not supported president lee. during 2000 campaign, hsu-chu ticket promoted reunification under 1 country, 2 systems , opposed referendum on independence.

the new party nominated independent social commentator li ao—an acclaimed author, historian, , former political prisoner—for president , legislator elmer fung vice president. li, supported 1 country, 2 systems , said took election opportunity educate people in taiwan. both , party publicly encouraged people vote james soong point of stating during televised presidential debates not planning vote himself , people should vote soong pro-reunification vote not split.

all of candidates promised work towards opening 3 links, largely popular measure.

shortly before election, zhu rongji, premier of people s republic of china attempted influence outcome, warning china not sit idly if taiwan moved towards independence , independence means war . following election, chinese analysts reached conclusion statements of chinese government had been counterproductive , helped chen win; consequently, china avoided making such open attempt influence 2004 elections.