President Chen's son begins 2 years of military service

With a blessing from his father's long-term political competitor, Chen Chih-chung (陳致中), the only son of President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) yesterday got on a train bound for Taichung to begin his two-year compulsory military service.

Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), who defeated President Chen in the last Taipei mayoral election, went to the Taipei Railway Station to see Chen's son and 300 other reserve officers off.

Neither the president nor first lady Wu Shu-chen (吳淑珍) showed up to say goodbye to their only son, who is to undergo the military's rites of passage over the next two years.

Chen Chih-chung, who graduated from National Taiwan University this summer, is to receive basic military training for a month at a boot camp in Chenkungling, Taichung County before he is assigned to a military unit.

Ma, who is likely to challenge Chen's father in the next presidential election, and Chen had few words to say to each other as they met for the first time.

"Are you all right?" Ma asked Chen as they shook hands during their short meeting. "No problem!" Chen replied.

Ma's question was about whether Chen was nervous about his forthcoming life in the military. Chen later told the press that he was not nervous about military life but that his mood was a bit down at present.

Asked about his impressions, Chen said it felt "good" to shake hands with Ma whom, he said, he has only seen on television.

He and the other recruits got a gift watch and phone card from Ma before getting on the train. "I will use the phone card to call my family more often," Chen said.