Taiwan ex-leader Lee endorses opposition candidate

TAIPEI: Taiwan's ex-leader Lee Teng-hui on Wednesday formally endorsed opposition presidential hopeful Tsai Ing-wen, saying she can maintain sovereignty for the long-term benefit of the island.

Tsai, of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which favours independence from China, is challenging the incumbent Ma Ying-jeou of the Kuomintang (KMT) party in her bid to become Taiwan's first female president.

"A leader should step down if he is not doing well, and that is why I call out -- give up Ma to save Taiwan," Lee said in a hand-written letter published in major newspapers.

"Taiwan needs a capable, determined, responsible leader who is willing to communicate and who cares about the people... I believe Tsai can do it."

The 88-year-old Lee, a former KMT chairman, criticised Ma for only looking after big business while ignoring smaller companies, blue-collar workers and farmers when promoting closer trade ties with China.

"Taiwan can do business with China but it has to maintain its sovereignty  if it wants to provide support for Taiwanese businessmen (based on the mainland) and ensure long-term benefits," Lee said.

He urged China to realise that it is facing the entire Taiwanese people, not one single political party, in dealing with the island.

"History shows that no matter who is elected, China will have to engage with Taiwan and that cross-strait ties will not change dramatically," he wrote.

Lee angered China during his 1988-2000 term by trying to promote a separate identity for Taiwan. Beijing fired missiles near the island in 1995 and 1996, prompting the United States to send carrier groups to the area.

Lee, who still enjoys support from the island's pro-independence camp, has been a vocal critic of the current government and has said that China intends to use a major trade pact with Taiwan to annex the island.

Taiwan and China split in 1949 after a civil war but Beijing still sees the self-ruled island as part of its territory awaiting reunification, by force if necessary.

Copyright AFP (Agence France-Presse), 2012