TAIPEI. Apr 3: As preparations are made to Inaugurate Taiwan's first fully elected leader, the question reverberates around the Chinese-speaking world — why not us. too?, reports-AP.

“Voting, elections — these are an aspect of modernising." says Shih Ming^teh, whose opposition party was walloped in the polls. "It's Impossible to say they are exclusive of Chinese culture."

Shih spent more' than 25 years as a political prisoner for opposing an authoritarian gov ernment..

The time was not wasted, he says, because without the sacrifices of dissenters Taiwan would not have universal suffrage and self-determination today.

Such goals echo through other Chinese societies as well.

“It is very encouraging for

democratic development." said lawmaker Chee Soon Juan, secretary general of the opposition Singapore Democratic Party.

Although Singapore holds parliamentary elections, the ruling party holds more than 90 per cent of the seats and maintains that social discipline. not Western-Style democracy and human rights, bring stability and economic growth.

While Taiwan's example is unlikely to speed change among its neighbours. It provides powerful ammunition to exponents of democracy.

In Hong Kong, the Taiwan experience Is held up as a model for life after China takes over next year.

"Taiwan elections reveal that a top-down appointment system is no longer accept-

able." the Sing Tao Daily said. The elections will encourage Hong Kong to resist Beijing's plan to fill the legislature and chief executive's post with appointees. the paper said.

Since Taiwan lifted martial law in 1987. two legislatures have been elected and the constitution amended to allow the election by universal suffrage that swept Lee Teng-hui back into office on March 23.

Even in China, where a dissident opinion can result in a Jail term, a government spokesman had no argument with Taiwan's election.

“The Taiwanese people should be able to choose their own leaders," Foreign Ministry spokesman Shen Guofang salo in Be)Jing.

The only condition he cited was that "they should not think that their leaders are anything more than local leader of a

part of China.”

In one sense, China itself participated in Taiwan's election. Its menacing war games were designed to sway voters away from Lee. whom Belling claims Is bent on making Taiwan Independent and dumping the doctrine that Taiwan and China are one country.

In Hong Kong too. Chinese officials gave behind-the-scenes backing to their favoured candidates in the British colony's legislative election In September —. even though China has vowed to disband the legislature and appoint its replacement in 1997.

The tactics have been less than successful. The war games probably boosted Lee's vote, while in Hong Kong, democrats opposed to Chinese policy won handily.

China has never freely chosen a leader, and elections are

little more than exercises In approving the Communist Party's appointees.

Xinhua. China's officialjiews agency, reported that Lee won the election but did not mention the world "democracy" or tell readers that Taiwan elected Its president by universal suffrage.

Strapping on his in-line roller skates In the shadow of a mammoth marble monument to Taiwan's former military leader. Chiang Kai-shek. 26-year-oid club manager Vegas Wang dismissed the idea that elections are not the Chinese '"^"Nonsense.” he said. ’That may once have been true, but ft is also true that cultures change

Fow people have paid more for the privilege of the vote than Shih.

A handsome, dapper man with an air of affable dignity, he Is often likened by Taiwanese to South African leader Nelson Mandela, another political prisoner who lived to see his people elect their president.

Shih spent four of his 25 years behind bars on a hunger strike, and was force-fed through his nose. He suffered spinal damage and lost many of his teeth in beatings

As he was speaking a few days after the election, an aide produced a subpoena for Shih to testify on behalf of protesters who had called for direct elections when such protests were still Illegal.

Shih said he would ignore the summons.

“Going to Jail again?' he said It's the least thing I'm afraid of."