Taiwan's Chu to take over ruling party, seen balancing China policy

[World News]

By Faith Hung TAIPEI (Reuters) - Eric Chu will take over as leader of Taiwan's ruling Kuomintang (KMT) on Saturday, inheriting an unpopular party seen as favoring big business and the mainland at a time of growing scepticism about ties with Beijing. Mainland China and Taiwan have been at odds since the end of China's civil war when the KMT fled to the island leaving the Communists running the mainland. Chu, a former KMT lawmaker, appears to be trusted by China. "China is comfortable with Chu taking charge of the KMT ... It has been trying to build mutual trust," said Tung Chen-yuan, a professor at the National Chengchi University and former vice chairman of Taiwan's China policy-making body.

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