Lien declines to comment on Lee

Declining to comment on the political stir triggered by his recent speech given in the US, KMT Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) yesterday said the party's top priority at the moment is the year-end Taipei and Kaohsiung mayoral elections.

Lien said the KMT will make an all-out effort to campaign in the elections and pick the best candidates for the races.

Lien said he will meet with PFP Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜) some time to discuss the two parties' plan to cooperate in the elections.

Lien made the remarks in response to reporters' questions on arriving at the Chiang Kai-shek International Airport, returning from a two-week US visit.

During the trip, Lien went to Chicago to attend a board meeting of his alma mater, University of Chicago. Lien also visited Washington and New York.

`Foolish remarks' at Press Conference

In Washington last week, Lien told the National Press Club that former President Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) was "pass?" for the KMT and Taiwan.

The description invited strong protest from the TSU, and Lee on Monday reacted calling Lien's remarks "foolish remarks uttered by a fool."

Lien yesterday would not comment on Lee's criticism.

Lien said he met over 100 journalists from the US and around the world at the club and talked a lot about the current situation of Taiwan's politics.

It is a pity that local media has only focused on the question concerning Lee, Lien said.

Kaohsiung mayoral contest

On the possibility of the KMT recommending former DPP Chairman Shih Ming-te (施明德) to run for Kaohsiung mayor, Lien would not confirm whether Shih had discussed the matter with him.

Lien said simply that he had met with Shih before he went on the US trip.

Shih, who quit the DPP two years ago, was reported to be seriously considering running for Kaohsiung mayor -- against the DPP incumbent Frank Hsieh (謝長廷).

Local newspapers have said that Shih intends to seek the support of the KMT and PFP for his bid.

Shih's possible Kaohsiung mayoral bid, however, has gained little blessing from his old friends.

Chou Pin-de (周平德), who was a leading figure in the 1979 Kaohsiung incident (美麗島事件) and is currently a senior adviser to the president, openly urged Shih not to join the race yesterday.

Warning Shih not to be manipulated by the "pro-unification camp," Chou said Shih would risk losing his long-time reputation as one of Taiwan's pioneer democratic activists in the case of his running for Kaohsiung mayor.

Chou said Shih has behaved in a "strange" manner over recent years.

For example, Shih has attacked President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) administration very often while never attacking Lien, Soong and even Chinese President Jiang Zemin (江澤民), Chou noted.

Chou suggested that Shih listen to Kaohsiung residents' opinions about him before making a decision to run.

Chou said it would be more practical if Shih would return to the DPP to strive for the well-being of Taiwanese people.