Taiwan presidential hopeful wants rival as running mate
Afp, Taipei
Taiwan's ruling party candidate for the 2008 presidential election, Frank Hsieh, said yesterday he had invited former premier Su Tseng-chang to be his running mate, reports said. The move was seen as a bid to heal a rift in the governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) between the two men and deliver its strongest possible ticket for next year's poll, which is expected to be hotly contested. "As of now I have not received his reply. But nor did he say 'no' either. I'm still waiting for his answer," Hsieh told Taiwanese television during a trip to Singapore. He said he would formally nominate Su, who is visiting the US, on Wednesday. Su has previously rejected the option of teaming up with Hsieh. The rift developed after the two men contested the DPP's primary in May to select the party's 2008 election candidate. The vote was dogged by allegations of graft and leaks of official documents. But calls for cooperation have been growing since Hsieh beat Su and two other candidates in the primary. The DPP ended the Kuomintang's 51-year grip on power in Taiwan when President Chen Shui-bian was elected to office in 2000. He was re-elected in 2004 by a slender margin. China considers Taiwan part of its territory, to be reunited by force if necessary. The DPP leans towards independence from the mainland, while the Kuomintang favours closer ties.
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