Lien tries to patch things up with Chiayi's mayor

Vice President Lien Chan (連戰) promised Chiayi Mayor Chang Po-ya (張博雅) a budget of NT$1 billion for local development and sought her support for the Lien-Siew ticket, according to reports in the Chinese-language media yesterday.

Chang recently criticized Premier Vincent Siew (蕭萬長), a native of Chiayi, for doing nothing to help his hometown, an accusation Siew later refuted.

In view of Chang's anti-Siew remarks, Lien yesterday called a meeting with Chang to discuss her accusations against his running-mate.

Lien asked Chang if there was anything he could do to help local development in Chiayi City, to which she responded by asking Lien to help construct a municipal stadium and a stone museum -- projects that would require funding of around NT$1 billion.

Media reports went on to say that Lien promised Chang that he would arrange the necessary funding in return for her support for the Lien-Siew ticket.

In related news, the Chiayi Association in northern Taiwan yesterday characterized Chang's anti-Siew remarks as nothing but rhetoric.

The association claimed that Siew had done a lot for the local developments there.

Chang expressed her disagreement with the association and said that the local residents of Chiayi knew best whether Siew had actually done much to help them.

According to the news reports, Chang warned Lien that if Siew dared to provoke her again, she would counter any threats he might make.