Chen emphasizes public safety

Amid increasing concern over his China policy, President-elect Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) was urged yesterday to handle cross-strait issues with a moderate approach that will not lead to a cross-strait conflict.

Continuing a series of visits to former military leaders, the president-elect met with presidential Strategy Adviser Song Chang-chih (宋長志) yesterday, who served as defense minister from 1981 to 1986 and ambassador to Panama between 1987 and 1991.

Soong, a graduate from the Royal Naval College in the UK, was one of the negotiators with US officials when Washington switched diplomatic ties from Taiwan to China in 1978.

His profile in the military was built up in a battle in 1949 with the Chinese Communist Party's People Liberation Army near the Yangtze River, in which he led his army out of a PLA encirclement.

Chen, having studied Soong's experience in military and diplomatic affairs before the visit, sought advice from Soong on issues of national security and cross-strait relations.

"Soong advises that in cross-strait issues we can't concede too much nor shrink back. But he also noted we can't go so far as to provoke China," Chen said. "That is, while taking a firm stance, we also need to take prudent approaches in dealing with delicate issues."

Apart from addressing cross-strait issues, Chen also raised concerns on the pressing domestic problems of prison management and flight safety, which have caused public anxiety in recent days.

On Sunday, two prisoners escaped from a Taichung detention center, allegedly with the assistance of an official of the center, who also disappeared following the jailbreak.

Police have conducted intensive surveillance and searches in central Taiwan, but few clues have been found as to the whereabouts of the prisoners and the prison official.

Just a day after the jailbreak, a pilot with China Airlines en route to Vietnam suffered a heart attack and fell into a coma during the flight, again raising public alarm. Fortunately, the risky episode ended without casualties after the co-pilot took over and made a safe landing.

In view of public anxiety caused by the incidents, Chen said yesterday the new government will place public safety, flight safety, and reconstruction of the 921 earthquake-affected area at the top of its agenda.

He said he appreciated the hard work of government officials, who have assisted the new government to take over in the final weeks before the formal inauguration on May 20.

However, he said work on improving public safety shall be carried on as usual during the period of power transfer.