Chen Junior appears in TV ad for his father

Chen Chih-chung (陳致中), the son of the DPP presidential candidate Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) appears in his father's latest campaign ad -- one designed to dispel fears that a DPP victory might bring Taiwan closer to war.

It features the younger Chen doing one-handed push-ups as a voice-over explains that he will complete his law studies next year and then enter the armed forces to do his compulsory military service.

The junior Chen says that in light of this situation, his father would be the last presidential candidate to want a war in the Taiwan Strait. He says he decided to openly support his father to help counter the KMT's "security card." The ad also points out that the sons and son-in-law of Vice President Lien Chan (連戰) have not served in the military and neither have the sons of independent candidate James Soong (宋楚瑜), or his running mate Chang Chao-hsiung (張昭雄).

The ad says Chen, like all parents, is unwilling to see his child head for the battlefield. All of Chen's family members live in Taiwan, the ad says, emphasizing that Chen is the last person who would want to see a war.

It was the first time that the junior Chen has come out before the media to openly stump for his father, with only 12 days before the March 18 election.