TAIPEI, - - Taiwan's ruling party chief said on Saturday he would not run for president in January, raising the prospect that an independence-leaning opposition party might regain power and cast a shadow over ties with political rival China.
Eric Chu, head of the China-friendly Kuomintang (KMT), had been considered the party's most promising contender to run against the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential hopeful, Tsai Ing-wen.
"Some people say, as the party chief, how can I not join the presidential race?" Chu told reporters, adding that he would help the party find the right candidate and achieve unity.
"I'm not afraid of criticism. We insist peace and development must be ensured across the Taiwan Strait," Chu said.
Saturday was the deadline for KMT members to sign up for the party's primary to choose its candidate. Three members did, including deputy legislative speaker Hung Hsiu-chu, the KMT said.
The KMT, or Nationalist party, dominated the island for decades after China's communists defeated the nationalists led by Chiang Kai-shek in a civil war that ended in 1949.
But the KMT was heavily defeated in local elections last November, rejected by voters suspicious of its push for deeper economic ties with China.
Since President Ma Ying-jeou of the KMT took office in 2008, trade ties with China have improved to their best level in six decades even though they remain political rivals.
China views the island as a breakaway province and has vowed to bring it back under its control, by force if necessary.
But many people in Taiwan reject the prospect of being absorbed by China and look to the DPP, which has voiced support for independence for the island, something that both Beijing and the KMT reject.
Beijing is highly suspicious of the DPP and its wariness about aspirations for independence were exacerbated last year when thousands of young Taiwan people occupied the island's parliament in an unprecedented protest against a planned trade pact involving closer ties with the mainland.
Chu may still come under pressure to stand.
Under KMT rules, he could be their presidential candidate if other party candidates cannot garner enough support to get through the party's primary process.
"It is still possible Chu will run," said KMT lawmaker Wu Yu-sheng. "He is the only candidate that most people see would win the election."
REUTERS
