Lee family extends grip on Taiwan Research Institute

Putting an end to former president Lee Teng-hui's (李登輝) link with his once-closest aide, the Taiwan Research Institute board meeting last week decided to replace the institute's deputy head, Su Chih-cheng (蘇志誠). The board nominated Lee's daughter to replace Su.

Annie Lee (李安妮), who earned a PhD in sociology from the University of Newcastle and is a researcher at the Academia Sinica, is known as an advocate of women's rights.

The Taiwan Research Institute, headed by one of Lee's closest followers, Liu Tai-ying (劉泰英), used to conduct various studies and surveys commissioned by the former KMT government.

Lee has served the institute as its honorary president since retiring from the presidency of the nation and worked regularly in an office at the research center in Tamsui.

Su, also the president of Tun Yun Corp (東雲公司), was once a core member of Lee's presidential team, and was nominated as the deputy head of the research institute when Lee took up his position there last year.

Rumors in political circles suggest that Su split with Lee over Lee's involvement in the TSU's legislative election campaign last year.

A source close to Su told the Taipei Times yesterday that Su didn't bemoan the loss of the academic title as he served on a volunteer basis without salary.

The source also confirmed that Su disagreed with Lee's link to the TSU because Su thought Lee's reputation would be ruined by the party's "controversial role."

The source added that, "When Su's political point of view became further and further removed from that of the former president, it was natural that they finally said good-bye to each other."

The office of the Taiwan Advocates, another pro-Lee think-tank which was officially inaugurated last week, is located in the same building as the Taiwan Research Institute.

The former president was elected by the Taiwan Advocates board as its president in April.