Academia Sinica president Lee Yuan-tseh (李遠哲) and former Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) chairman Lin Ying-hsiung (林義雄) yesterday lent their support to President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁), saying that only Chen can continue to facilitate the country's reform and defeat the counterattacks of the "black-gold" forces.
"During the past four years, there has been some progress in our country, such as the very strong ability of academic circles in promoting the country's development, the negative forces attempting to sink the entire society into depravity is still growing, as emphasized by the attempts to discredit me and the unfair allegations against me," Lee said yesterday, as he appeared alongside Chen in Taipei during a press conference.
"Considering that we must chose the candidate who can carry on reform and meet the expectations of the Taiwanese people," said Lee, "therefore I will again cast my ballot in favor of the DPP's Chen-Lu ticket, who may not be experienced, but have displayed more idealism, stronger motivation for reform and better flexibility."
PHOTO: GEORGE TSORNG, TAIPEI TIMES
Lee had sent a statement to local media outlets Wednesday night, expressing his views of the presidential election. The president immediately visited Lee yesterday and arranged a joint press conference to vow their resolution in carrying out all reform promises.
Nobel laureate
Lee, Taiwan's sole Nobel laureate, also made a similar gesture four years ago, when he called on the public to support Chen. Lee said yesterday that his decision to vote for Chen in 2000 had not been wrong.
"Though the policymaking and administrative coordination of the DPP administration has displayed their lack of experience, we have still seen a great deal of progress in different fields. However, we also see that the negative forces are still harming our society's union, which is what has spurred me to speak up at this moment," Lee said.
He also commented on the former Tuntex Group chairman Chen Yu-hao's (
"It is Chen Shui-bian and Lien Chan (
"The media and the public should not be misled by [Chen Yu-hao's allegations]," Lee said.
"I don't think that Chen Yu-hao and Shen Fu-hsiung's remarks will affect the election. They are just petty things," Lee said.
Responding to Lee's endorsement, Chen also said that he will make the issues of improving the cross-strait relationship and easing ethnic conflict his priorities once he wins on March 20.
Promises
"President Lee asked me to carry out the promises of being honest and harmonious, nominating talent, eliminating ethnic conflict, improving the cross-strait relationship, terminating black-gold and taking care of poor and disadvantaged minorities," Chen said. "I give my word and will sincerely follow those expectations."
The president also praised the contributions of mainland Chinese to Taiwan during past decades, saying that there were only a few people who were manipulating the ethnic issue.
"My first priority after winning the election is to humbly address these ethnic issues and to normalize cross-strait interactions on the principle of peace, especially after the second referendum question establishing a `peace and stability framework' gets the approval of the Taiwanese people," Chen said.
"Moreover, I am now pledging that we will never give in to the black-gold forces counterattack," Chen said. "We believe that our victory will terminate the remnants of these negative forces in this country."
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