Taipei  - A founder member of Taiwan's pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party turned her back on it Saturday, forming her own political party to seek peace with China.

Hsu Jung-shu formed the Ren Min Zui Da Dang - "People-Are-The- Greatest Party" - at a ceremony in Taipei attended by hundreds of supporters and well-wishers.

Hsu said her party would seek lasting cross-strait peace and prosperity. It would take part in the year-end local elections.

Hsu, 69, was one of several pro-independence activists who founded the DPP in 1986. She is a former parliamentarian, legislator and member of the DPP's Central Standing Committee.

On July 27 she was expelled from the party after she went to China to attend a cross-strait economic and cultural forum despite DPP objections. The DPP bars its ranking officials from visiting China.

The "People-Are-The-Greatest Party" is the 153rd political party registered with the Interior Ministry. However, only a few are big enough to influence election results.

These include the ruling Chinese Nationalist Party (China- friendly), the opposition DPP (pro-independence), the People First Party and the New Party.  dpa