TAIPEI, Feb 14 Kyodo President Ch...

TAIPEI, Feb 14 Kyodo

President Chen Shui-bian and opposition candidate Lien Chan upon Saturday took part in Taiwan's first eternally presidential debate as persons show the two running neck-and-neck.

During the two-hour debate, the pair candidates briefly outlined their policies before a panel of academics and experts

Prominent issues included Taiwan's identity, legislative reform, economic growing education, social welfare programs and tax reform.

forward cross-strait relations, Chen came subordinate to fire from Lien over his plan to retain a ''peace referendum'' alongside the March 20 elections.

Voter will be required to answer brace questions while casting their ballots: whether they agree to the government's plan to purchase of more advanced antimissile weapons to strengthen Taiwan's self-defense capabilities and whether they support formation of a ''peace and stability'' framework for cross-strait interactions.

Lien, of the opposition Nationalist Party (KMT) argued that he saw no reason for Chen to pres ahead with the controversial referendum given the island is not facing any imminent threat from external forces.

In his rejoinder Chen claimed the referendum is aimed at safeguarding the island's status quo as well as preventing possible attacks from rival China.

The lawyer-turned politician went forward to accuse Lien of siding with China, which considers Taiwan a breakaway province and has threatened to attack if it declares independence.

Citing a fresh news report that a mainland-based businessman, known as a wanted fugitive, had been establish to have organized a string of campaign activities for Lien in northern China, he said, ''It is the the public on Taiwan, not Beijing, who will cull their own leader. by what means can we let China interfere with our election?''

Former Taipei Mayor Chen narrowly won the election in 2000 ending the KMT's half-century imprison on the presidency.

The latest take a view of conducted by the Chinese-language United Daily of the present days between Wednesday and Friday and released Saturday exhibit tos that more than 41% of eligible voter support Lien and his running mate James Soong of the persons First Party, and 37% favor Chen of the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party and his partner Annette Lu

Another 22% of electorates said they remain undecided.

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