Chen-Lee alliance steals the limelight

The much-discussed "Lee-Bian alliance" was finally revealed yesterday when former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) and President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) shared center stage at the founding of an elite academic and cultural society.

Until yesterday, the alliance's existence had been the subject of frenzied speculation. But the joint public appearance of Chen and Lee was conclusive proof of its existence.

During their 45 minutes on stage together, the frequent physical contact and chatter between the two signified a cozy relationship.

The high-profile meeting began in an atmosphere of intense excitement as Chen and Lee entered the auditorium together to a spontaneous standing ovation.

Chen was invited to speak first.

"Politics is not the power game of the minority. Those of us who have been entrusted with office by the people are no more than executors of the people's will. But only with the participation of intellectuals and the conscience of society, will democracy survive," Chen said in his address at the inauguration ceremony of the Northern Taiwan Society (台灣北社), a consultative group consisting of nearly 90 members of the cultural, academic, legal and medical elite from the northern part of the country.

"We have to concede that the development of both the ruling and opposition parties has been far from satisfactory over the last year. As a popularly elected president, I wholeheartedly hope that [the Northern Taiwan Society] will proffer professional opinions to provide guidance and reference for government."

Applauding Chen's speech enthusiastically, the 78-year-old Lee walked to the podium and gave his own address.

After highlighting the vital role played by intellectuals in society, the former president and ex-KMT chairman abruptly changed subjects, directing criticism at unnamed politicians.

"Although power has been transferred peacefully, there are people who are not yet aware of mainstream public opinion and have failed to adjust their political ideologies to fulfill people's expectations. At the moment, we ought to build confidence and carry out swift reforms to bring about successes for Taiwan," Lee said in Hokkien.

Lee was careful not to mention names, but political commentator Chin Heng-wei (金恆煒) said he believed that Lee was referring to KMT Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) and PFP Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜), in view of the fact that Lee had voiced his discontent with the close ties they had forged recently in the hope of achieving success in the year-end legislative elections.

Having finished his talk, Lee was hailed with another standing ovation by the audience who anxiously took turns to shake hands with him, while shouting "Go, Go, Taiwan (加油台灣)."

The president and his predecessor's joint attendance at the founding ceremony of the society was no coincidence. Most of the members of the elite group are supporters and long-time friends of Lee and Chen and all have endeavored to advocate a sense of national consciousness in Taiwan.

A statement issued by the newly formulated group maintains that relations between Taiwan and China are those of "two countries, two systems." On cross-strait affairs, the group opposes relaxing the present "Go slow, be patient" policy. In addition, the group advocates constitutional reforms to establish an unequivocal "presidential system" in order to solidify the power of the president.