Taiwan’s Ruling Party Wins Constitutional Vote

Taiwan’s ruling party won an election Saturday for a special assembly charged with amending the constitution, in a boost for President Chen Shui-bian’s policy of resisting unification with China.

With 99% of ballots counted, the Central Election Commission said the Democratic Progressive Party had won 42.5% of the vote, against 38.9% for the opposition Kuomintang, or Nationalist Party.

The result appeared to be vindication at home for Chen’s independence-leaning policies, after recent visits to China by three opposition leaders put him on the defensive and transformed the election into a test of strength for his ruling party.

“Chen can breathe a sigh of relief,” said Philip Yang, a professor of political science at National Taiwan University. “It helps ease pressure on Chen to improve relations with China.”

China gave a lavish welcome to two of the opposition leaders -- Kuomintang’s Lien Chan and the People First Party’s James Soong -- who favor eventual reunification with the mainland and have criticized Chen’s efforts to strengthen Taiwan’s status as a self-governing entity.

Taiwan and China split in 1949 after a protracted civil war. Beijing has threatened to take the island by force if it moves toward formal independence.

In the election, voters chose a party list of delegates to consider a package of constitutional reforms -- reducing the number of legislators, extending lawmakers’ terms in office and enshrining referendums as the only means for approving future constitutional changes.

Chen’s supporters had urged followers to vote in large numbers, saying that a vote against the ruling party was a vote for unification with China. But turnout was just 23.4%.