Would-be suitor still determined to make Lu swoon

Chen Chih-peng (陳志鵬) -- better known as Tony Chen (湯尼陳), a self-proclaimed admirer of Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) -- announced yesterday that he plans to publish a book to express his "unchangeable love" for Lu in time for her June birthday, the local Chinese-language media reported.

On Feb. 9, the 43-year-old English teacher and radio show host expressed his love for the 57-year-old vice president by renting ad space on a billboard alongside the highway near Changhua County, on which he proclaimed his love.

The billboard was quickly removed the next day by the county government on orders from Minister of the Interior Yu Cheng-hsien (余政憲).

Chen later unfurled two large scrolls outside his English cram school in Taichung on Valentine's Day which also declared his adoration.

Lu broke her silence on her would-be suitor Monday, saying that Chen was "either abnormal in his mentality or had an ulterior motive."

Chen yesterday said Lu's remarks would not diminish his feelings.

"I will always love her, although I'm under huge pressure from all sides right now," Chen said in tears.

Both the public and the media have strongly criticized his actions, accusing him of chasing the vice president in order to gain publicity for his two English cram schools.