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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
.