Pro-independence group forms political party in Taiwan

The pro-independence Formosa Alliance formed a political party on July 20, saying that it hoped to field at least 10 candidates in the legislative election next January and give independence-leaning voters an alternative to the current ruling party.

The Formosa Alliance will not compete in the 2020 presidential election, said Lo Jen-kuei, a minister in the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan, who was elected chairman of the new party.

He said the Formosa Alliance was formed not out of dissatisfaction with the performance of President Tsai Ing-wen but rather to give pro-independence voters a choice other than her Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).

In fact, Lo said, it would be a blessing for the Taiwanese people if the DPP won the 2020 presidential election.

He said he hoped to see Tsai team up with former Premier William Lai on the DPP presidential ticket.

Meanwhile, the Formosa Alliance, which was founded last year as a political coalition, is likely to nominate at least 10 candidates for the 2020 legislative elections, its chief convener Kuo Pei-hung said.

Kuo, who is also chairman of Formosa TV, said the missions of the new party include normalizing Taiwan's status as a country, protecting it from annexation by China, and amending the Constitution to change the country's name from the Republic of China to Taiwan.

Commenting on the formation of the new party, the DPP said it welcomes partners that are concerned about the sovereignty issue and will "become powerful supporters of the president."

Former President Lee Teng-hui, 96, is one of the founding members of the Formosa Alliance.