On Saturday, the Republic of China elected Chen Shui-bian (pronounced chen shway-bien) as president. The leader of the opposition's Democratic Progressive Party, Chen had called for Taiwan's independence from China, which had responded to such rhetoric with threats of invasion were Chen to be elected. Thus far, no invasion is imminent, but an olive branch from Chen in the form of a request for immediate talks was rejected by Chinese President Jiang Zemin. Zemin has made Chen's acceptance of eventual reunification with China (known as the "one China" policy) a precondition of any further discussion. Meanwhile, the Taiwan stock market fell sharply, losing three percent in morning trading yesterday. Supporters of the Nationalist Party, which had been in power for the last half century, and whose candidate, Lee Teng-hui, came in a dismal third in the election, stormed the Nationalist Party headquarters Sunday demanding Lee's immediate resignation. Concerned about destabilization as a result of Chen's election, the White House prepared to have National Security Advisor Sandy Berger join Ambassador Richard Holbrooke in Beijing to urge patience on China's part while the State Department sought another official -- possibly former Democratic representative Lee Hamilton -- to send to Taiwan to counsel similar caution.