KMT's quake policy is risky, say analysts

Scholars say the KMT could help itself by sharing the reconstruction limelight with others having administrative experience.

"Soong and Chen should be given some kind of role," Yang said, noting that both had such experience -- especially Soong.

Yang added that the choice to install Academia Sinica president Lee Yuan-tse (李遠哲) as the head of the Reconstruction Advisory Group was misled.

"The Chinese have a mythical admiration for scholars ... so government officials think that his charisma and ineffable power can resolve problems," Yang said. "I don't think he will be able to handle the heat in the kitchen."