Chen wines and dines retired military leaders

At a dinner party yesterday that carried an almost identical guest list to one thrown by KMT Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) two days ago, President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) paid tribute to retired military officers.

In commemoration of Servicemen's Day, which falls on Sept. 3, the president wined and dined a group of retired and active-service generals, calling them the "cornerstones" of the nation.

The party received outsized attention in the media because of the affair Lien hosted for retired generals with KMT ties.

A total of 36 retired generals attended the dinner. Included among them were four generals who had been chiefs of the general staff over the past two decades.

Incumbent Chief of the General Staff Tang Yao-ming (湯曜明) and Minister of National Defense Wu Shih-wen (伍世文) also showed up, along with a dozen active-service generals.

At Lien's party, several retired generals openly criticized former President Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) for what they said was Lee's betrayal of the party in supporting the Taiwan Solidarity Union.