More than 500 foreign reporters have applied to cover Taiwan's presidential election on March 22, the government Information Office (GIO) said on Tuesday, according to dpa. A press centre has been set up to provide background and other forms of assistance to foreign reporters, GIO Vice Director Yi Jung- tzung said. There are only two presidential candidates: Ma Ying-jeou of Chinese Nationalist Party (Kuomintang or KMT), Taiwan's largest opposition party, and Frank Hsieh of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). A poll by the TVBS cable television channel on Tuesday showed of the 965 respondents, 53 per cent support Ma while 29 per cent support Hsieh. Analysts have attributed the low popularity rating of the ruling party candidate to public discontent with the administration of President Chen Shui-bian, which is involved in a string of corruption scandals and is blamed for Taiwan's economic downturn and strained ties with China. Chen will have served two four-year terms - the longest tenure of a Taiwan president - when he steps down once the new president is sworn in on May 20.
