Asia-Pacific News
Ex-Taiwan independence activist forms pro-China party
Sep 26, 2009, 16:20 GMT
Taipei - A founder member of Taiwan's pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party turned her back on it Saturday, forming her own political party to seek peace with China.
Hsu Jung-shu formed the Ren Min Zui Da Dang - 'People-Are-The- Greatest Party' - at a ceremony in Taipei attended by hundreds of supporters and well-wishers.
Hsu said her party would seek lasting cross-strait peace and prosperity. It would take part in the year-end local elections.
Hsu, 69, was one of several pro-independence activists who founded the DPP in 1986. She is a former parliamentarian, legislator and member of the DPP's Central Standing Committee.
On July 27 she was expelled from the party after she went to China to attend a cross-strait economic and cultural forum despite DPP objections. The DPP bars its ranking officials from visiting China.
The 'People-Are-The-Greatest Party' is the 153rd political party registered with the Interior Ministry. However, only a few are big enough to influence election results.
These include the ruling Chinese Nationalist Party (China- friendly), the opposition DPP (pro-independence), the People First Party and the New Party.
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