President shot

KMT Chairman Lien Chan (連戰), the pan-blue camp's presidential candidate, relayed his concern to Chen and Lu, saying that he and his party hoped they would recover quickly.

"We also expect the government to give the public a clear explanation of the shooting as soon as possible," Lien said.

At 9:20pm yesterday, Lien visited Chen at his Taipei residence to convey his sympathies, but was told Chen was asleep and met with Chiou instead.

Supporters from the pan-blue and pan-green camps gathered to sing and pray for the peace of the country. Chen's wife, Wu Shu-chen (吳淑珍), and family members also went to the Presidential Office to attend a briefing.

"Thank God my husband is alive. I don't care about whether he wins the election or not, I just want him to be OK," Wu was quoted as saying by Examination Yuan President Yao Chia-wen (姚嘉文), who accompanied Wu to the Presidential Office.

At the press conference following the national security meeting, the premier announced that the government would continue operating as normal since Chen was able to remain in full charge of his administration.

Minister of National Defense Tang Yao-ming (湯曜明) said that the military was well-prepared to handle any situation, especially any action China might take in the wake of the assassination attempt.

"We have closely monitored the Taiwan Strait and the southeast coast of China, and so far there is nothing unusual to report," he said.

The National Security Bureau expressed its regret that it had failed to maintain the president's and the vice president's security, saying it would review all security mechanisms.

"Our top priority is to arrest the suspect and we will absolutely shoulder responsibility for inadequate performance," National Security Bureau Deputy Director Wang Chin-wang (王進旺) said at the press conference.

Asked whether any leaders of other countries had expressed concern over the shooting, Minister of Foreign Affairs Eugene Chien (簡又新) said that ambassadors and representatives had contacted the government to pass on their good wishes to Chen and Lu as well as to Taiwan.

"American Institute in Taiwan Director Douglas Paal has already contacted us to express his sympathy ... over the incident," Chien said.

Asked how the shooting would affect Taiwan's democracy, Chien said that since the nation was still a young democracy, he hoped the election would proceed peacefully.

"We do not want to be punished by this event at this democratic moment," he said.

After receiving medical treatment by Chi Mei Medical Center doctors and from the president's medical task force, Chen and Lu returned to Taipei by plane at around 7:30pm and retired to their homes for rest.

In a taped address to the nation last night, televised at 11pm, Chen said: "Since the event happened, the emergency national security mechanism has been activated and I believe the nation's security is assured. I believe there is no security problem for the people to worry about. I also thank those medical professionals who treated me. A-bian is OK."

Lu said: "The gunshot has shaken the country. However, we are safe to serve as the leaders of the state it is our duty to defend. I urge everyone to exercise their duty as a citizen and carry out their basic obligations by casting their ballots tomorrow."