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To: Jdaasoc who wrote (11)	10/4/2000 3:52:36 PM
From: DJBEINO	Respond to of 22

Taiwan's New Premier Expected to Restore Stablility: Analysts TAIPEI, Oct 4 (AFP) - Taiwan's new premier Chang Chun-hsiung, given his seniority in parliament and the ruling party, stands a good chance of restoring political stability and the people's confidence, analysts said Wednesday. Some others doubt a change of premier could clear the political uncertainty and reverse the fortunes of Taiwan's ailing stock market which has lost 30 percent since the inauguration of President Chen Shui-bian from the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). However, all agree there will be no change in the island's China policy since under the constitution, the president sets defense and diplomatic policies and has final say on cross-strait issues. "With Chang in command, there will be fewer disputes between the cabinet and President Chen in decision-making on major issues," said DPP lawmaker Lin Cho-shui. A lack of consistency in major economic policies in Chen's government has been blamed for a confidence crisis which depressed the local bourse. Former premier Tang Fei from the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) who resigned Tuesday did not see eye-to-eye with the president on several key issues. Chen had pledged to scrap a controversial 5.6 billion US dollar nuclear power project while Tang had vowed to safeguard it. Tang favored eventual reunification with China while Chen has insisted on the island's independent sovereignty. In a phone-in survey conducted by TVBS, 94.8 percent of the 47,411 respondents agreed Tang's resignation reflected a collapse of confidence in Chen's government. "Chang will be in line with the president on major policies given their mutual understanding," said DPP legislator Chen Chi-mai. "But the president will still hold the authority in making the country's China policy," the legislator said. "It is also an immediate great task for Chang to serve as a mediator between cabinet and parliament where he had served for six terms," said lawmaker Lin. Chang's diplomatic skills and his familiarity with the law-making body -- where he had served since 1983 before taking DPP government posts in May -- would help push through various bills now deadlocked, Lin added. "He could help ease the bitter confrontation between the DPP and the KMT and People First Party whose candidates lost in the March 18 presidential polls," he said. Chang, 62, pledged to foster stability a day after the shock resignation of his predecessor, but share prices crashed amid uncertainty over the island's political future. "I understand very well the needs of the public, a safe political environment, continued economic growth and stable stock market," Chang told a press conference after his appointment. But despite calls for confidence from Chang and financial authorities, the stock market plummeted 2.4 percent, or 145.52 points, to close at 5,997.92 Wednesday, the lowest in 20 months. The crash would have been worse had the government not halved the daily maximum limit for market falls to 3.5 percent, dealers said. "I do not think Chang's appointment can bring a positive impact to the political crisis or ailing economic conditions," KMT legislator Ting Shou-chung said. "President Chen, being head of a minority government, should have consulted with the KMT before naming a new premier. This, again, shows his lack of respect for parliament," he said. Opposition leaders have called for a round table with the ruling party on national policies and President Chen has agreed. Lin said the new premier, who is also a former leading dissident, would be able to ease conflicts among various factions within the DPP. But political science professor Kuo Cheng-liang from Soochow University said the president himself must shoulder the coordination responsibility instead of pushing Chang to the frontline.