Taiwan Judicial Chief Says He Will Not Challenge President Lee in Elections

TAIPEI, Taiwan —  Taiwan’s judicial chief moved to heal an unprecedented split in the ruling Nationalist Party by announcing Friday that he would not challenge President Lee Teng-hui in upcoming elections.

Senior government and Nationalist Party officials held emergency sessions last week after party elders said they wanted Lin Yang-kang to challenge Lee in elections for president and vice president this month.

“People have been thrown into a panic. If there were two teams of candidates in the campaign . . . there would be only disagreement and discord,” Lin said.