Just nine more days remain until Nov. 14, when government leaders congregate for an APEC leadership summit. However, former premier and current KMT Vice Chairman Vincent Siew (
The DPP government declares that it has not abandoned efforts to persuade Siew. In fact, Chen is ready to visit KMT Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) at Lien's residence to make an apology in the hope of easing the political crisis. However, when Chen made a phone call to Lien's house, Lien refused to take the call, alleging that he was already in bed, making Chen's meeting with Lien an unlikely event for the time being.
On the other hand, the opposition parties continue to seek endorsements for a proposal to recall Chen. The number of endorsements is reported to be on the rise. A head-on collision is expected to take place at the legislature by Tuesday. The standoff continues, without any visible sign of resolution.
Everyone knows a proposal for recall is unlikely to be officially submitted, and that the tough position taken by the opposition alliance is a negotiation strategy. However, Lien's unwillingness to compromise and the KMT legislators' blood-thirsty behavior make us worry about how the political standoff should be resolved.
Without a foreseeable resolution to the crisis, we worry about the diplomatic troubles about to be created by Taiwan's internal turmoil at the cost of its international reputation and image. In view of the diplomatic isolation of Taiwan, we really don't have much diplomatic resources left to waste. How much time and money would be needed to make up for any mistakes in diplomacy? Taiwan really can't withstand the blow.
We hope that the KMT can exercise reasonable self-control in the fight over "face" and "rage." It should take back the decision against Siew's attendance at the APEC meeting. If the KMT refuses to budge and, as a result, makes Taiwan an international laughing stock, the KMT will be fully responsible. It will face uniform condemnation by all the people of Taiwan, much to its own disadvantage.
If within the next few days, the standoff continues, we must call on the government to seriously consider a replacement for Siew, and notify the host country as soon as possible. We believe that Taiwan does not necessarily need to send someone with a financial and economic background, making either one of the highly exalted "Mr. Lees" perhaps an even better candidate.
The first is, of course, Lee Teng-hui (
The second candidate is the convener of the task force in charge of Taiwan's cross-strait policy, Dr. Lee Yuan-tseh (
We hope that the DPP administration does not become an international joke and make a decision immediately on the APEC representative.
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