Following the indictment of former Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) chairman Ma Ying-jeou (
While extending his support to Ma, Lien said that Ma's declaration had "limited" the negotiating space between Ma and Wang, who has hinted at a presidential bid of his own, and could cause a pan-blue split if he insists on running as a KMT candidate.
"Although I used the word `limit,' it doesn't mean that it is impossible for Ma and Wang to hold negotiations ? Let us combine our efforts using wisdom and experience to push for party integration," Lien said in a statement after meeting with Acting KMT Chairman Wu Poh-hsiung (
PHOTO: CNA
Lien, who reportedly has a problematic relationship with Ma and favors a "Wang-Ma" presidential ticket, also warned that revoking the party's black-gold exclusion clause could generate a negative response.
In a meeting on Tuesday night after Ma's resignation, the KMT's Central Standing Committee -- its highest decision-making body -- repealed a "black gold" exclusion clause to prevent Ma from being disqualified from running as the party's presidential candidate.
The clause was formulated by the Central Standing Committee and revised under Ma's chairmanship to stipulate that any party member who is indicted should be suspended.
The clause seems to have been revoked specifically for Ma, although Wu denied the accusation.
In response to Wu's request that he serve as a mediator between Ma and Wang, Lien said he would try to arrange a meeting before he heads to Australia for the Lunar New Year holiday on Saturday.
"It seems that the KMT is enduring a serious crisis, but we can turn it into an opportunity for victory in future elections," Lien said.
Wu repeated Lien's message for party integration, and said the meeting would be held before the end of the month or early next month if it could not be arranged before Saturday.
Meanwhile, although the KMT decided not to accept Ma's resignation at a provisional meeting on Tuesday night, Ma reaffirmed his decision after speaking to Wu.
KMT Secretary-General Wu Den-yih (
Wu Poh-hsiung would take over the chairmanship for the next three months until the party holds a new election for chairman, he said.
Ma made no public appearances yesterday.
The removal of the anti-graft clause drew the ire of several KMT lawmakers yesterday.
The pro-Wang lawmakers said the decision to repeal the clause would affect party unity.
"Revoking the clause in such a hurry without taking into account the feelings of Wang will damage coordination between [Ma and Wang]," KMT Legislator Hung Hsiu-chu (
Wang has not declared his candidacy, but has hinted at a presidential bid of his own.
KMT Legislator Huang Chao-shun (黃昭順) said that unexpected consequences might occur as the decision to repeal the law was made solely by members of Ma's camp.
Wang yesterday also voiced his opposition to Tuesday night's provisional Central Standing Committee meeting, but he didn't single anyone out for condemnation.
"Those who handle party affairs should do so in a respectable fashion. They should have considered all scenarios, and shown respect ? so that the party can win support from the public," Wang said, refusing to say whom he was referring to.
Wang said he had "no comment" when asked by reporters whether the removal of the clause was tailor-made to help Ma's chances of a presidential bid.
"We will launch a signature campaign calling for a Ma-Wang presidential ticket [today]," KMT Legislator Sun Ta-chien (
"When I met with Lien three weeks ago, he told me that he preferred Ma as the presidential candidate because his chances of winning the election were better, even though he had a strong friendship with Wang," Sun said, "Lien also said the same thing to Ma about 10 days ago."
Wang yesterday declined to comment on a presidential bid, saying that he was still "making an assessment."
An anonymous source from Wang's camp told the Taipei Times that Wang had set his mind on running for president, but Ma's announcement had put Wang in a difficult position.
"The report didn't come out without reason," he said, referring to a story published by the Chinese-language United Daily News last Saturday that said Wang had decided to compete in the party's primary and had started preparing for his campaign.
also see story:
Editorial: The blooding of Ma Ying-jeou
Authorities have detained three former Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TMSC, 台積電) employees on suspicion of compromising classified technology used in making 2-nanometer chips, the Taiwan High Prosecutors’ Office said yesterday. Prosecutors are holding a former TSMC engineer surnamed Chen (陳) and two recently sacked TSMC engineers, including one person surnamed Wu (吳) in detention with restricted communication, following an investigation launched on July 25, a statement said. The announcement came a day after Nikkei Asia reported on the technology theft in an exclusive story, saying TSMC had fired two workers for contravening data rules on advanced chipmaking technology. Two-nanometer wafers are the most
NEW GEAR: On top of the new Tien Kung IV air defense missiles, the military is expected to place orders for a new combat vehicle next year for delivery in 2028 Mass production of Tien Kung IV (Sky Bow IV) missiles is expected to start next year, with plans to order 122 pods, the Ministry of National Defense’s (MND) latest list of regulated military material showed. The document said that the armed forces would obtain 46 pods of the air defense missiles next year and 76 pods the year after that. The Tien Kung IV is designed to intercept cruise missiles and ballistic missiles to an altitude of 70km, compared with the 60km maximum altitude achieved by the Missile Segment Enhancement variant of PAC-3 systems. A defense source said yesterday that the number of
A bipartisan group of US representatives have introduced a draft US-Taiwan Defense Innovation Partnership bill, aimed at accelerating defense technology collaboration between Taiwan and the US in response to ongoing aggression by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The bill was introduced by US representatives Zach Nunn and Jill Tokuda, with US House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party Chairman John Moolenaar and US Representative Ashley Hinson joining as original cosponsors, a news release issued by Tokuda’s office on Thursday said. The draft bill “directs the US Department of Defense to work directly with Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense through their respective
Tsunami waves were possible in three areas of Kamchatka in Russia’s Far East, the Russian Ministry for Emergency Services said yesterday after a magnitude 7.0 earthquake hit the nearby Kuril Islands. “The expected wave heights are low, but you must still move away from the shore,” the ministry said on the Telegram messaging app, after the latest seismic activity in the area. However, the Pacific Tsunami Warning System in Hawaii said there was no tsunami warning after the quake. The Russian tsunami alert was later canceled. Overnight, the Krasheninnikov volcano in Kamchatka erupted for the first time in 600 years, Russia’s RIA