More than seventeen-million people in Taiwan are voting to elect a successor to their pro-independence president, Chen Shui-bian. Over the past eight years, Mr Chen has frequently angered Beijing, which has always regarded Taiwan as part of China. There are two candidates hoping to succeed him -- Frank Hsieh, of Mr Chen's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), and the frontrunner, Ma Ying-jeou, who represents the opposition Kuomintang (KMT).
Correspondents say both men are pragmatists who favour better economic ties with China.
Saturday, 22.March.2008
