All three men favor democracy, markets and peaceful reunification with the North.

Political candidates here issue furious denials when rivals accuse them of favoring rapid reunification.

But another survey found for the first time that less than half the public favors eventual reunification, seeming to prefer the status quo.

The opposition Nationalist Party, which ran Taiwan from 1949 to 2000, is closer to the island's business community and favors eventual reunification with the mainland.

But the leaders of the two countries, who are implacable foes, always say they favor reunification on their terms.

He also forged an unusual political pact with James Soong, the leader of a small opposition party who favors reunification with the mainland.

The Nationalists, now the main opposition party here, still favor eventual political reunification with the mainland.

The hope is that this open-mindedness will gradually encourage Taiwan residents to favor reunification with the motherland.

The big winner was the Communist Party, a group so troglodyte that it favors "voluntary reunification" with Russia.

He does so without ever betraying whether he favors reunification or some form of independence.