Ruling Party Expels Leading Candidate

The ruling Nationalist Party expelled the front-runner in Taiwan’s presidential election, punishing him for ignoring the party’s orders to drop out of the race and support its official candidate. The long-expected decision to oust James Soong came four months after he started his maverick campaign that has threatened to split the vote for the Nationalists, who have ruled Taiwan for 54 years. In July, Soong refused to back the party’s official candidate, Vice President Lien Chan. The two have been vying to replace President Lee Teng-hui, who is retiring in March. Soong, who has a large lead in the polls, was on the verge of expulsion just before a devastating earthquake struck Taiwan on Sept. 21, causing the party to postpone the decision.