KMT ad withdrawn after Lee Yuan-tseh raises objections

Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) ordered a pan-blue TV advertisement to be withdrawn one day after its release because of objections by Academia Sinica President Lee Yuan-tseh (李遠哲), who was quoted in the ad.

Lee, who only yesterday dis-covered that he featured in the KMT-People First Party (PFP) alliance's new TV campaign, demanded they withdraw the ad-vertisement.

"Mr Lien Chan must not have known about the ad. I believe he would demand that his campaign staff drop the ad if he were aware of [the contents]," Lee said.

"If Mr Lien Chan does know about the ad but chooses not to do anything about it, my respect for him would diminish quite a bit," he said.

The commercial, released on Sunday, features a montage of news clips showing members of President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) presidential advisory committee, including Lee, Evergreen Group chairman Chang Jung-fa (張榮發) and Formosa Plastics Group chairman Wang Yung-ching (王永慶), voicing doubts over Chen's competence to govern the nation.

Lien quickly responded to the Nobel laureate's objection.

"Due to the division of labor during the campaign period, as well as my hectic campaign schedule, I have yet to see the new campaign advertisement, which was produced by the [party's] publicity committee," Lien said.

Although the video clips of Lee that featured in the advertisement had all been of statements made at public occasions, Lien said that his party would cancel it immediately "if Lee thinks [the ad] is inappropriate."

According to political obser-vers, Lee played an important role in Chen's successful presidential election bid four years ago when he came forward at the last minute to endorse Chen's candidacy.

Lee yet to announce whether he supports Chen's re-election bid.

Meanwhile, the pan-blue alliance yesterday released another TV advertisement promoting Lien and PFP Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜). It focuses on Soong's performance during his tenure as Taiwan Provincial governor and stresses Soong's determination to serve the people.

"Whether it was a mining pit 1,300m under the ground or on Penghu, Soong, during his tenure as Taiwan Provincial governor, left his footprints around the nation in serving the people," said KMT spokesman Justin Chou (周守訓). "We hope that their countrymen give both Lien and Soong a chance again to serve them again."

The advertisement was produced in three languages: Hoklo (also known as Taiwanese), Mandarin and Hakka.

Meanwhile, Lien yesterday pledged to donate his income to charity if he was elected.

"I will donate my salary to children who have no money to pay for their lunch and other needy people," Lien told Eastern Television in an interview.