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The KMT's outline for succession is unclear

`Siew has said his goodbyes to the KMT by turning the tables on Lien.'

Last Thursday, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Senior Vice Chairman Vincent Siew (蕭萬長) abruptly tendered his resignation to KMT Chairman Lien Chan (連戰). Siew released a statement saying that he was stepping down in response to Lien's call for a generational transition of power within the party and the party's efforts to downsize its staff. His resignation generated three points worthy of our attention.

First, there were no early signs of Siew's resignation. The day Siew returned from an overseas trip, he unexpectedly attended a KMT meeting to discuss the issue of party reform. Afterwards, he held a closed-door meeting with Lien in which he submitted his resignation. Lien, however, hoped that Siew could step down with him when both of their terms expire in August.

Nonetheless, Siew did not change his mind and chose not to attend the KMT's Central Standing Committee meeting. Not long afterwards, he submitted his letter of resignation to Lien.

Second, Siew's resignation was announced not by the KMT headquarters, but by his assistant.

Third, the reason Siew decided to resign is to facilitate the generational transition of power within the party. Siew is merely a party vice chairman and not considered the target for a transition of power. Obviously, we have to read between the lines.

In fact, Siew was "forcing" Lien to step down by unseating himself, for Lien will probably step down in August. Why couldn't Siew wait another five months? Further, Lien told KMT Secretary-General Lin Fong-cheng (林豐正) to ask Siew to stay on. However, Siew did not even want to answer the phone call, which forced Lien to approve Siew's request.

The point is whether or not Lien is determined to step down. Following the Chen-Soong summit, Lien proposed a reconciliation between the KMT and the Chinese Communist Party. He even appointed another KMT Vice Chairman Chiang Ping-kun (江丙坤) to head a delegation to pay homage to the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum in Nanjing and the Mausoleum of the 72 Martyrs in Guangzhou. Is he determined to step down?

According to media reports, quite a few KMT heavyweights have also urged Lien to seek another term. Just the other day, after the KMT's Central Standing Committee meeting, Lien met with some party members, who expressed their support of him seeking another term. Therefore, we wonder if Lien is creating a situation in which party members keep encouraging him to seek another term.

Another KMT Vice Chairman Wu Poh-hsiung (吳伯雄) revealed that Siew had told him by phone of his decision to resign. Wu also told Siew that Lien will not continue as chairman, and that the transition of power within the KMT is definitely going to take place. Doesn't this justify Siew's doubt? Siew's decision to resign is, therefore, self-evident.

On March 10, the KMT's Central Standing Committee meeting will pass articles that regulate the KMT's chairmanship election. Siew has actually tested these regulations before they get passed. That is quite a gesture on Siew's part, isn't it? Siew has said his goodbyes to the KMT by turning the tables on Lien.

Chin Heng-wei is editor-in-chief of Contemporary Monthly magazine.

TRANSLATED BY DANIEL CHENG
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