Former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) yesterday launched his new pro-Taiwan advocacy group, an organization he said will play a role in stabilizing the nation's rowdy politics and influence policymaking.
On hand at yesterday's ceremony were President Chen Shui-bian (
The presence of the political heavyweights suggests cooperation between pro-Taiwan KMT members and the DPP may be in the offing.
Wang and Siew -- who both maintain close ties with Lee -- are considered the highest-ranking KMT officials likely to cooperate with Chen's administration out of respect for the former president and his ideology.
Also yesterday was the third time this year that Chen has shared the stage with Lee, who created the Taiwan Solidarity Union in June to support the DPP in the legislature.
Lee yesterday said he founded his new group, called Taiwan Advocates, to give the public confidence that the days of raucous politics may soon be over.
"I chose to establish the group two days after the polls in an attempt to put the public's mind at rest after the hotly contested elections," Lee said.
In addition, Lee said, he wanted to "highlight the people's expectation that [we should] build a better Taiwan using rational means to usher in a new era."
The 78-year-old Lee reiterated that he had come out of political retirement because he was apprehensive about seeing his 12 years of democratic and economic achievements being undermined after last year's shift in power.
With China still a threat and Taiwan's accession to the WTO, the country faces tough trials ahead, Lee said.
"There is no time for us to wait. We have to stabilize the political scene by entering into partisan negotiations, so as to forge consensus and achieve harmony in a timely manner," Lee said.
The former president, who has described his group as a "think and do tank," said Taiwan Advocates would play a key role in the political realignment now that the elections are over.
He said the group will be "a bridge between the ruling and opposition parties," and a communications channel between the government and its people.
"We do not seek to be a theorist, instead we aim to be an activist," Lee said. "Only by translating thoughts into deeds can it make a difference for the nation."
The president has said he is willing to share his political power and resources to achieve political stability.
"The people targeted for membership in the `cross-party alliance for national stability' are mostly politicians. But the goal can not be carried out without public assistance," Chen said, suggesting that Taiwan Advocates could provide the government with help.
Before Saturday's legislative elections, the president proposed forming a "national stability alliance" with the goal of controlling 120 seats in the legislature.
While Lee normally draws a crowd where ever he goes, what attracted much of the media's attention yesterday was Wang and Siew's attendance at the ceremony.
Both offered their congratulations to Lee and lauded his past achievements.
The two men are seen as key figures should pro-Taiwan KMT members and the DPP cooperate in the new legislature in February.
Chen and Lee reportedly met Sunday to discuss how the nation's political map will be redrawn.
According to sources, the two have reached a tacit agreement to support Wang's re-election as speaker of the legislature.
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