A lifelong member of the ruling Kuomintang (KMT), James Soong's decision to launch a rival presidential bid against the party's nominated candidate, Lien Chan, brought about his immediate expulsion from the party.

Although he ran as an independent, Soong still retained the support of a number of influential KMT legislators.

However several have also since been expelled from the party for giving him their support.

Born in Hunan province to a mainland Chinese family, Soong was expected to win the support of most mainland-born Taiwanese who favour his policy of "positive" engagement with Beijing.

Factfile

Age: 57 Party: Independent Political experience: Governor of Taiwan Province 1993-98; Secretary-General of the KMT 1989-93 Running mate: Chang Chao-hsiung (heart surgeon)

But his policies towards the mainland also struck a chord with other constituencies and opinion polls at one point showed him edging ahead of the other two main candidates.

Soong says relations with Beijing should be defined as a "quasi-international relationship" - neither domestic, as the two sides do not belong to each other, nor state-to-state, because the question of national sovereignty is still unresolved.

Ultimately he says there should be a gradual union between Taiwan and the mainland by first signing a non-aggression pact followed by the formation of a cross-strait union similar to the European Union.

Critics however say that Soong's positive approach to the mainland risks undermining Taiwanese sovereignty and independence.

As polling day approached his campaign was overshadowed by accusations from former KMT colleagues that he embezzled party funds and hid millions of dollars in a bank account owned by his son.

Soong insists that President Li Teng-hui ordered him to appropriate the money to care for the family of former President Chiang Ching-kuo.

However Mr Li and the KMT have denied all involvement, insisting that the money for Chiang's family was deposited in a different bank account.