On July 16, former Provincial Governor James Soong, a long-time KMT member, after completing more than an hour's discussion with John Chang, secretary-general of the KMT, formally announced his candidacy in next year's presidential election. In that battle, Soong will cross swords with the KMT's official candidate, Vice President Lien Chan, as well as Chen Shui-bian, official nominee of the DPP, and Hsu Hsin-liang, former chairman of the DPP, who has left his party to stand in this election.

In a public statement regarding Soong's decision, the KMT declared that it had gone to the greatest lengths to avert Soong's departure. The party claims it did everything possible to mend the rift and that, given the promotions that James Soong received under successive KMT presidents, argues that his defiance of his colleagues' call for "party unity" is highly regrettable. At present the KMT has still not decided whether to take disciplinary action against Soong, but John Chang says that if the split between Lien and Soong causes the party to suffer a setback in next year's election, he [Chang] and James Soong would have to share responsibility. President Lee Teng-hui, who is KMT chairman, added that although every member of the party has the opportunity and right to stand for election, it is best to compete with each other within the framework of the party.

James Soong gave serious consideration to participating in just that kind of competition and proposed conducting an intra-party primary in which the winner would be decided by direct voting by KMT members. John Chang, in rejecting Soong's proposal, argued that because the KMT has so many members, practicing this kind of party democracy would certainly be extremely cumbersome and disruptive. This year's presidential nomination will therefore be carried out largely in accordance with established practice.

Even before this selection process, however, it was clear the party would endorse Lien Chan as its nominee. Meanwhile, the election train of former Governor Soong was already rolling into action. In addition to setting up campaign headquarters and opening fund-raising accounts by the end of July, Soong had previously launched another province-wide tour.

On his travels around Taiwan, James Soong has received encouragement from many supporters. During his visit to Nantou, Nantou County district councillor Yang Ming-shan presented him with a "Presidential Fish" specially produced at Sun Moon Lake. In order to increase his prestige in international affairs, at the beginning of June, Soong also made visits to the USA and Japan. In the USA he met with Ms. Laura D'Andrea Tyson, president of the Haaf School of Business at U.C. Berkeley and former economics advisor to President Clinton, and Mr. Chang-lin Tien, former president of the University of California. While in Japan, Soong met with Kondo Tetsuo, former member of the Japanese Diet.

It would thus seem that James Soong is already well warmed up and there can be no reversal of his decision to stand as a candidate. Once his candidacy was announced, it was clear that people's hopes that Soong would accept being vice-presidential candidate on a ticket with Lien had come to nothing. This was despite last minute intervention by some pro-KMT business leaders (including Kao Chin-yen, chairman of the Chinese National Federation of Industries, Wang You-theng, chairman of the General Chamber of Commerce of the ROC, Jeffery Koo, chairman of the Chinese National Association of Industry and Commerce, and Lee Cheng-chong, president of the Chinese Federation of Labor), who released a joint communique calling for a united Lien-Soong ticket on the evening before the Soong-Chang meeting.

Soong has explained his decision to run by arguing that the KMT is in need of transformation, its policies need reform, the lives of common people require improvement and that it is time for good people to step forward and make their contribution.

As for the possibility that James Soong's candidacy will divide the KMT's share of the vote, naturally Chen Shui-bian of the DPP would be the main beneficiary. Chen expressed no surprise whatsoever at Soong's decision and hopes that next year's election will be a "competition between gentlemen." He stresses that the peaceful transfer of the reins of government between political parties and the implementation of party politics can only be achieved through the ballot box.

The other candidate in the race, Hsu Hsin-liang, suggests that although James Soong has left his political party to seek election and that at present his popularity is very high, he will still have to rely on the power and influence of elements of the KMT; otherwise his momentum will gradually grind to a halt.

At present, while public opinion surveys show that Soong's popularity remains high, there is still a long road ahead before the final announcement of the election results. It will be up to the voters to decide who is the best presidential candidate to lead Taiwan forward into the 21st century.

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Announcing his candidacy after the "Soong-Chang meeting," James Soong cheerfully gives the media a victory salute. (photo by Huang Tien-chiang)