Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, March 22, 1990 TAG: 9003222160
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: The New York Times
DATELINE: TAIPEI, TAIWAN LENGTH: Medium
The American-educated Lee, 67, is the first native Taiwanese to be elected president.
Lee, previously vice president, automatically became president two years ago upon the death of his predecessor, Chiang Ching-kuo, the son of the former Nationalist leader, Chiang Kai-shek.
In recent weeks there was intensive jockeying for power in the National Assembly, which elects the president, but Lee's only challenger withdrew a few days ago.
Thus, running unopposed, he received 641 votes, about 95 percent of those cast. The remaining ballots were invalid or blank.
Thousands of student demonstrators and a small number of hunger strikers continued their protests in Chiang Kai-shek Square in central Taipei on Wednesday and pressed their demands for broader and faster changes in Taiwan's political system.
Lee pledged in a statement to work for constitutional democracy, economic progress, social order and stability.
Wednesday evening, he met for about an hour with 50 student representatives at the presidential palace and appeared to agree to their demands, students said.
While Taiwan has taken steps toward democracy in recent years, and held multiparty legislative elections in December, the president is still chosen by the 752-member National Assembly.
Most of the Assembly members are in their 80s and 90s and were chosen on the China mainland before fleeing to Taiwan with Chiang Kai-shek.
The overwhelming vote for re-election by the National Assembly appeared to be a sign of unity among the elderly delegates who had until recently appeared divided in their support of Lee.
by CNB