Taiwan's presidential candidates kick off campaigns

TAIPEI -- Taiwan's presidential candidates kicked off their campaigns Sunday for elections scheduled for March 22, with both the ruling and opposition parties calling for improved ties with rival China.

Escorted by party heavyweights, Ma Ying-jeou of the opposition Nationalist Party signed up for the poll with the Central Election Commission. Frank Hsieh of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, accompanied by flag-waving supporters, registered minutes later.

"We will strive to create a prosperous and peaceful cross-Strait relationship while maintaining our dignity," Ma told supporters when opening his campaign headquarters in Taipei after registering.

"We will negotiate with Beijing on those issues and strive for the best development for Taiwan," he said.

Ma reiterated his party's stance not to formalize the island's de facto independence nor negotiate with Beijing about unification when Taiwanese remain wary about the communist regime.

Early this month, Ma's party trounced the DPP in a legislative poll widely seen as a referendum on President Chen Shui-bian's policies of confronting Beijing and distancing the self-governed island from China both politically and economically.

Voters used their ballots to repudiate Chen, noting his policies could cause the island to lose its global competitiveness and hurt its once-vibrant economy.

Taiwan and China split amid civil war in 1949, but China still maintains the island is part of its own territory to be unified eventually.

Analysts say the opposition's landslide win could give Ma substantial momentum for his presidential campaign.

Hsieh, meanwhile, pledged to build a clean government and prop up the island's slowing economy.

He did not give details on Sunday. But like Ma, Hsieh has favored greater economic engagement with China and has called for a lowering of restrictions of Taiwanese investments in China.

Analysts expect Hsieh to distance himself from President Chen and instead pursue a moderate stance to win over members of the middle class.

Hsieh has also underscored the need for checks and balances in the government, noting his election could best keep the Nationalists from using their dominant control in the legislature to abuse power.

(AP)