Print

Mail

wiki links

Lien Chan coy on meeting Chen, and coyer still on running for chairman

"My thinking tells me that we should continue pushing for democracy within the party."

Lien Chan, KMT chairman

Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) yesterday said he would not rule out meeting with President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) to discuss the details of his just-completed trip to China, while adding that he presently had no plans to run for another term as party chairman.

"This trip has at least meant that neither side of the Taiwan Strait is a burden to the other any longer, and that each will work to develop its economy and neither [side] will lag behind," Lien said in an interview with the China Television Company (CTV).

"I appreciate the goodwill from Mr. Chen Shui-bian. I believe that Mr. Chen has taken note of the results of my journey and will make adjustments in [his] cross-strait policy," he said.

Lien said he would not rule out meeting Chen in regard to his trip if the need existed.

Yesterday's interview was the first that Lien has given since his eight-day tour of China ended on Tuesday.

During the controversial trip, Lien met Chinese President Hu Jintao (胡錦濤) in the first meeting between a KMT leader and the Chinese leadership in 56 years.

The meeting produced a five-point agreement on cross-strait relations, which Chen has since said is legal, despite earlier hints that the administration would crack down on Lien for making the agreement with Hu.

During his interview yesterday, Lien also addressed an apparent rise in support within the KMT for him to serve a third term as party chairman.

Lien restated his stance that he has no plans to run again at this time.

"My thinking tells me that we should continue pushing for democracy within the party. When facing the people [calling for my re-election] there are many emotions at play, but my thinking is very simple. We should work with this principle in handling this situation. I currently have no plans to run," he said.

Lien has previously said that he did not intend to run again for chairman because it was time to hand over the party's reins to the next generation.

Despite this, support for Lien's re-election has increased with the success of his trip to China.

This support manifested itself yesterday morning when thousands of KMT supporters congregated at Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall in Taipei in an appeal to Lien to stay on as chairman.

Carrying a petition, the rally's participants chanted the slogan "Defend the nation, embrace Lien."

KMT policy committee head Tseng Yuan-chuan (曾永權) arrived from KMT headquarters to receive the petition and thank supporters.
This story has been viewed 2341 times.