Tsai Ing-wen to seek chair of Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party again
Tsai Ing-wen's bid could open the door to a 2016 presidential run and increase the infighting over the party's stance on cross-strait relations
The former leader of Taiwan's main opposition Democratic Progressive Party yesterday announced she would seek the party chairmanship again in May, paving the way for a possible run for president in 2016.
Tsai Ing-wen's move is expected to intensify party infighting over its core issues and ambitions, especially in terms of cross-strait relations.
She will run against incumbent Su Tseng-chang and former party chairman Frank Hsieh Chang-ting in a race to be decided on May 25. Su has taken a hardline approach towards ties with Beijing, Hsieh backs co-operation, while Tsai is expected to strike the middle position between them.
Tsai, who led the party from May 20, 2008 to mid-January 2012, said the DPP and Taiwan needed to evolve to survive.
"Time has changed, and the world we live in has also changed, but if we insist on living in the past, we will finally be eliminated by the world," Tsai said during a news conference in Taipei.
"I announce my bid today because I want people here to restore trust in our party, and once again have hope we can build up the country, society and families," she said.
Tsai said the party needed to ensure people's livelihoods, initiate policies that reflect changing realities and be responsive to public opinion.
