Lam predicted that KMT Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) will go to Beijing shortly and "will certainly have a long meeting with Jiang Zemin." Afterwards, PFP chief James Soong (宋楚瑜) will also go to Beijing, he predicted. Meanwhile, the dropping stock market and other economic problems will help Beijing "co-opt the business community" of Taiwan.
He noted that a group of Taiwan's "largest tycoons" have set up a group to press Chen to liberalize curbs on business dealings with China.
Such developments will rule out any Chinese military activities against Taiwan in the short term, he said.
"I think the United Front [activities] and economic ties are sufficient for Beijing to put Chen Shui-bian on the defensive. Beijing is hopeful that in the next legislative election in Taiwan in late 2001, the DPP will take a drubbing, and then in the presidential election of 2004, Beijing is hopeful that the KMT or the People First Party candidate will be elected," he said.
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