Soong pumps up presidential race at Taipei rally

Independent presidential candidate James Soong (宋楚瑜) and his running mate, former Chang Gung University president, Chang Chao-hsiung (張昭雄), yesterday made their first appearance at a major campaign rally in Taipei.

Soong handed campaign flags to the Soong's Friends Association's Taipei city branch at the rally, which bore the theme "fighting for Taiwan's future" (打拚為台灣). The rally attracted more than 10,000 people.

The campaign rally was only the second held by Soong, the first one having taken place over three months ago on Aug. 14. The rally indicates that Soong is turning his full attention to the presidential campaign battlefield after his dismissal last week from the KMT.

Soong delivered an hour-long speech, mostly focusing on the significance of his notion of "nonpartisan ideals."

"If we want to have healthy politics, first we must have a healthy party. But take a look at our ruling KMT or the opposition DPP. Have they met people's expectations?'' Soong asked, to loud cheers from supporters.

"I do not deny that the KMT has made great contributions to our society. But as we can all see now, the KMT is unfortunately on the decline, a victim of its own vision,'' Soong said.

Moreover, Soong defined "nonpartisan" government as being based on three concepts: recruiting elites to the government without regard to party identity, placing Taiwan's interests as the government's first priority when debating the unification/independence controversy, and applying the most suitable policies for people, regardless of party ideology.

In an attempt to appeal to Kaohsiung voters earlier in the day, Soong told supporters there that not only his wife, Chen Wan-shui (陳萬水), is a native Kaohsiung resident, but that his running mate Chang Chao-hsiung also comes from the southern port city.

"Both attest to special feelings for Kaohsiung, so I can promise that once we are elected, I will send Chang to review development in Kaohsiung every month,'' Soong said at the rally.

As Soong geared up for the presidential race after his expulsion from the KMT on Nov. 17, officials at KMT headquarters insisted its members draw a clear line "between friends and enemies" and launched an aggressive campaign against Soong's camp to protect the regime.

Among KMT heavyweights being courted by both sides is current senior advisor to the Presidential Office Wu Poh-hsiung (吳伯雄).

In light of Wu's Nov. 11 announcement that he would "not likely campaign for vice president Lien Chan (連戰) and Premier Vincent Siew (蕭萬長)," one anonymous party official said Lien has recently attempted to win Wu back through a number of channels, including Buddhist master Hsing-yun (星雲) from Fokuangshan (佛光山) monastery, who is Wu's teacher.

And today, both president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) and Lien plan to personally attend a ceremony marking the 100th anniversary of Chungli elementary school (中壢國小), Wu's alma mater.