2A -The Michigan Daily - Monday, March 20, 2000 NATION/WORLD Progressive wins Taiwanese election Aft ACROSS THE NATiom c22 TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) - Chen Shui-bian, vilified by China as a radical who would thrust Taiwan toward independence and war, won Taiwan's presidential elec- tion Saturday, trouncing the candidate of the party that has ruled this island for more than half a century. Beijing deeply distrusts Chen because his Democra- tic Progressive Party favors taking Taiwan from de- facto to formal independence and making the 51-year-old split with China permanent. But the president-elect, who has softened his stance on independence to appeal to nervous voters, immedi- ately pledged to seek dialogue with Beijing. China's first response to Chen's win was that it a- would wait to see how he would handle relations. The election results "will not change the status of Taiwan as a part of China," the government said in a statement issued by state media. China has repeatedly threatened to wage war to block formal independence by Taiwan, which it has considered a renegade province since Chiang Kai- shek's Nationalists fled to the island after the Commu- nist takeover of the mainland in 1949. A conflict could quickly involve the United States, which has hinted it would defend the island, slightly larger than Massachusetts and Connecticut combined. Fireworks crackled and air horns blared as Chen took the victory stage in Taipei and assured tens of thousands of supporters he wants peace with Beijing. "I hope we can use closer cooperation and exchanges and use patience and respect and together Chinese society can create a peaceful and happy new century," Chen said. The son of a poor sugar cane laborer whose worka- holic ways earned him a law degree at Taiwan's top university and won him the post of Taipei mayor, Chen. entered politics by defending dissidents during Tai- wan's martial law era. In Washington, President Clinton congratulated Chen and urged a renewal of dialogue between China and Taiwan that Beijing suspended in 1995. Chen's win "clearly demonstrates the strength and vitality of Taiwan's democracy," Clinton said in a statement. Gunfire breaks out in hostage situation DUNDALK, Wd.;- A murder suspect holding three people h