TAIWAN-POLITICS/PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION Taiwan's ruling Nationalists pick pro-China Hung as presidential candidate

Record ID: 146708

  • Title: TAIWAN-POLITICS/PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION Taiwan's ruling Nationalists pick pro-China Hung as presidential candidate
  • Date: 19th July 2015
  • Summary: **** WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY **** VARIOUS OF KUOMINTANG PARTY CHAIRMAN, ERIC CHU SINGING TAIWAN'S ANTHEM WITH CHILDREN ON STAGE SCREEN SHOWING PORTRAIT OF SUN AND FLAGS OF TAIWAN AND KUOMINTANG KUOMINTANG REPRESENTATIVES SINGING TAIWAN'S ANTHEM
  • Embargoed: 3rd August 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA8TCDIQYXUFG3EMS4HOUUECFYB
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Taiwan's ruling Nationalists on Sunday (July 19) nominated pro-China Hung Hsiu-chu as its candidate for presidential elections in January 2016, ending months of division in the party following heavy losses at local elections.
    More than 1,000 members of the party, also known as Kuomintang (KMT), cheered and clapped at a party congress to show support for the deputy legislative speaker Hung, a nomination which will be welcomed in Beijing.
    "Only if the KMT does well, can the country be stable and progress. Only if the KMT does well, can Taiwan be prosperous and develop. Only if the KMT does well can Taiwan's future be better," Hung, 67, said.
    "If Hsiu-chu wins the presidential election, I surely will closely stick to the constitution, follow party's protocols. (I will) adhere to the priority of Taiwan and the essence of people's will on the basis of the 1992 consensus, (ensure people's) equality and dignity, consolidate, deepen and promote the peaceful development across the strait to make sure all people enjoy the benefits from the peace between the two straits," she added.
    Hung's unopposed nomination indicated the pro-China KMT had united after its local election defeat last November, said analysts.
    China has claimed sovereignty over Taiwan since 1949, when Mao Zedong's forces won the Chinese civil war and Chiang Kai-shek's Nationalists fled to the island.
    Both sides remain political foes even though trade ties between the two sides have improved to their best level in six decades since President Ma Ying-jeou took office in 2008.
    Beijing will closely watch the presidential vote, which will see Hung campaign against Tsai Ing-wen from the independence-leaning opposition DPP.
    Hung had advocated unification with China but was recently stopped by senior party members, as the majority of Taiwanese prefer the status quo. Hung is expected to maintain KMT's China policy which favours trade with the mainland.
    Thousands of young people occupied Taiwan's parliament in March 2014 in an unprecedented protest against a planned trade pact calling for closer ties with Beijing.
    The race between Hung and Tsai remains tough.
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