DATE=11/18/1999 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT TITLE=TAIWAN POLITICS (L-ONLY) NUMBER=2-256302 BYLINE=DERRICK MCEHLERON DATELINE=TAIPEI CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: Independent presidential candidate James Soong has officially registered his intention to become Taiwan's next president. As Derrick McElheron reports from Taipei, the rebel politician's official election bid could pose a major threat to the ruling Nationalist's 54-year domination of Taiwan politics. TEXT: Maverick politician James Soong was mobbed by supporters and the news media at central election commission headquarters as he filled out the forms declaring himself a candidate for Taiwan's presidency. Mr. Soong is considered the frontrunner in the campaign for the March 2000 general elections. He told his chanting backers he is running to uphold the dignity, security and advancement of the people of Taiwan and that his presidential bid marks a new era in Taiwan1s development as a democracy. The former provincial governor's candidacy comes just one day after he was expelled from the ruling Nationalist party for running against its official candidate. The ruling party had been threatening to eject Mr. Soong since he made public his desire to run for president - even though the party had chosen current Vice President Lien Chan to head the presidential ticket. Nationalist officials say Mr. Soong's presidential aspirations violated the party's charter and were also undermining the party1s stability. But Mr. Soong says he was the victim of political sabotage by a handful of Nationalist members and that he still loves the party. But he also accused the party of being out of touch with voters' needs and disconnected at the grass-roots level. Opinion polls in Taiwan suggest voters may agree. The surveys have placed Mr. Soong far ahead of Mr. Lien, as well as the opposition Democratic Progressive Party candidate, Chen Shui-bian. Because Mr. Soong does not have the backing of an official party, he must now obtain the signatures of 224-thousand people to become officially approved as a presidential candidate. He says he will try to gather far more than the required number, to demonstrate his political strength. (SIGNED) NEB/DM/FC/JO 18-Nov-1999 04:34 AM EDT (18-Nov-1999 0934 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .
