Taiwan's KMT picks 'one-China' Hung Hsiu-chu for 2016 presidential run
Party rallies behind deputy legislative speaker, who has advocated unity with the mainland
Taiwan's ruling Kuomintang on Sunday nominated pro-mainland Hung Hsiu-chu as its candidate for presidential elections in January, ending months of division in the party following heavy losses at local elections.
More than 1,000 members of the party cheered and clapped at a KMT congress to show support for the deputy legislative speaker Hung, a nomination which will be welcomed in Beijing.
"Only if the KMT wins can the values of peace and openness be assured in the future," Hung, 67, said.
Hung's unopposed nomination indicated the KMT had united after its local election defeat last November, analysts said.
"Her nomination indicates the unity of the KMT, closing the gap between her and the [Democratic Progressive Party] rival," said Lo Chih-cheng, chief of the political science department at Soochow University in Taipei. "Hung embraces the 'one-China' policy and Beijing welcomes such a position."
Beijing will closely watch the presidential vote, which will see Hung campaign against Tsai Ing-wen from the independence-leaning opposition DPP.