Chen defiant as lawmaker foes protest

Before making the speech outside the Presidential Office building, Chen delivered a speech to Cabinet officials in the auditorium of the Presidential Office.

The president described an opposition-initiated recall motion as "a new chapter in the partisan struggle" which has persisted since the transfer of power in 2000.

"Combating corruption has always been at the top of my political agenda," he said. "All are equal before the law, including the president and his family, and there is no exception."

As the justice system is the last line of defense for social justice, Chen called on the public to have faith in the legal system and give investigators time to conduct an independent inquiry.

It is a perversion of democracy and the rule of law if some people doubt the fairness of the judicial system simply because a legal finding is at odds with their desires, Chen said.

The political unrest over the past six years reflects the fact that the opposition parties have refused to cope with the reality that they lost power democratically, Chen said, adding that the country faces a dilemma common to other emerging democracies.

On relations with Beijing, Chen said that as long as China continued its one-party, authoritarian rule, it would be difficult to make a substantial breakthrough in cross-strait relations unless Chinese leaders acknowledge the universal ideals of freedom, democracy and human rights.

Chen then urged the legislature to pass a long-delayed arms procurement package to boost the nation's leverage at the negotiating table.

"We don't intend to engage in a military competition with China, nor do we want to intensify cross-strait tensions," he said. "We are instead investing in peace, security and stability."

In response to Chen's speech, the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) condemned the president for bringing up the issue of integrity even as he and his family members were being accused of involvement in corruption scandals.

Chen's remarks, along with the suggestion that the Double Ten National Day rally be scrapped and criticism of the opposition's recall motion, showed that the president was no longer competent in the position, KMT Spokesman Huang Yu-cheng (黃玉振) said.

"As the nation's leader, President Chen suggested that the celebrations should not be held. Did he make the suggestion because he knew that he will no longer be president next year?" Huang asked at a press conference at the party's headquarters.

On Chen's criticism of the recall motion, Huang lashed out at the president for lacking the ability to "reflect."

KMT Chairman Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) said his party would make a full effort to pass the recall motion against Chen.

"This is the only feasible way to oust President Chen," Ma said at Taipei City Hall.

People First Party Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜) echoed the KMT's denunciation of Chen, as he led party legislators in a walk out of the celebration while Chen was giving his speech.

"We will do anything we can to pressure A-bian and the DPP, and let them know our resolve to oust A-bian," he said.

Additional reporting by Mo Yan-chih