Former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) threw his political weight behind the newly formed TSU yesterday, attending rallies in Pingtung and Kaohsiung.
In addition to challenging a threat from the KMT that he could be expelled, Lee lashed out at the selfishness of opposition politicians, took a stab at the chairman of the PFP, James Soong (
"There are many ways to help Taiwan develop. The best way is to support the TSU ... they are the ones who are willing to help the government face its challenges," Lee said, speaking to a group of supporters in Pingtung County yesterday.
Wherever Lee went yesterday, he was surrounded by scores of supporters who carried TSU flags and banners.
Half-page advertisements were taken out in local newspapers in southern Taiwan which read: "If the people who attend tonight's rally [in Kaohsiung City] number less than 30,000 then Lee Teng-hui will be expelled and the spirit of Taiwan will be revoked. If between 30,000 and 50,000 [attend], then the KMT will maintain its silence. If over 50,000 people show up, then the KMT will be expelled by the people of Taiwan."
Nearly 20,000 attended the rally at Kaohsiung City's Chung Shan Sports Center.
To avoid being accused by the KMT of campaigning for the TSU, however, each gathering was not called a rally but rather a "gathering" of the friends of Lee Teng-hui.
Still, it was clear from Lee's comments that his loyalties lie with the TSU.
"There is only one party that uses Taiwan in its name and that is the Taiwan Solidarity Union. Only this party can fight for Taiwan's future," Lee said.
Lee urged mothers, fathers, aunts, uncles, brothers and sisters to rally their support behind the newly formed party.
"Each candidate is my avatar," Lee said.
"We have fought for democracy for around 30 to 40 years and the only way to keep this from collapsing is to help these candidates enter the Legislative Yuan.
"Launch political party reform with the TSU at the center and eliminate those parties which are not focused on Taiwan," Lee said.
While many of Lee's critics wish he would just retire and stay out of politics, the former president said the events that have unfolded over the past year have forced him to take action.
"I can't just sit idly by and watch the chaos in the Legislative Yuan, and lawmakers who care only for their own interests, with the economy falling into a recession," Lee said.
"The only way to let me retire is for everyone is to join together and support the TSU, to help it establish its power base, and maintain what we have achieved over the past 12 years."
While Lee also blamed the troubled economy on opposition lawmakers, he urged the government to do its part as well.
Lee said that opening up to China and blaming Taiwan's problems on the global meltdown are not solutions to the recession.
The former president said that contrary to popular belief, Taiwan's market is still in the US, Japan and Europe, and not in China.
"Everyone is mistaken in thinking that China is our only future," Lee said.
The size of the US business market is roughly US$1.2 trillion and yet China's is only US$200 billion, he said. The combined business market of the US, Japan and Europe together is roughly US$3 trillion.
"It is very clear where our market is," Lee said.
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