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Lien says KMT agrees with PFP on merger

Cooperation * Lien suggested that the two parties should put their heads together and quickly agree on a joint political platform. * He also suggested that the joint platform should include major issues like national development, politics, economics, security and cross-strait relations.

KMT Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) yesterday confirmed the party's willingness to cooperate with the PFP to accomplish a "second transfer of power" in the 2004 presidential election.

Lien's remark, which was made at a routine meeting of the party's Central Standing Committee, echoed a recent proposition by PFP Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜). Putting forth the idea of a "united KMT-PFP team," Soong suggested that the two parties should field a joint presidential ticket to secure their victory -- and to form a ruling coalition if they do succeed in winning the election.

Lien said the KMT, PFP and all friends of the "pan blue" camp "will not evade their responsibility to their country" in the next presidential election.

To prepare well for the campaign, the two parties should put their heads together and quickly agree on a joint platform regarding major issues like national development, politics, economy, security and cross-strait relations, Lien suggested.

"We must put forth our joint commitments and vision to offer the people of Taiwan a categorical, crucial, meaningful and final choice in the presidential election," Lien asserted.

Lien pledged that the KMT will expand its services to the public to try to win the support of the absolute majority so as to muster an "irresistible, dominating" force behind the bid.

"We must work hard to establish a quality democracy, prevent populism from spreading unchecked, remove the seeds of separatism from Taiwanese society and let the middle-of-the-road, rational force prevail," Lien said.

While it is a natural development in a democratic system for the KMT and PFP, as two major opposition parties in the legislature, to cooperate with each other, the cooperative venture is also much anticipated by the mainstream public opinion, Lien said.

According to Lien, a number of people have recently urged the KMT to unite with the PFP, saying they don't want to see Taiwan "sinking deeper" and that they fear a continued DPP leadership would lead Taiwan to a "hopeless situation."

"Taiwan has experienced unprecedented predicaments over the past two years of DPP leadership, during which democratic and economic development has gone backward," Lien said.

Citing the World Competitiveness Yearbook released recently by the International Institute for Management Development, Lien said that Taiwan, which ranked 18th in term of its competitiveness in 2000, slid to 24th position last year.

Despite the support of most KMT politicians for Lien's plan to cooperate with the PFP, a consensus is apparently still needed within the party.

Shyu Jong-shyong (徐中雄), a pro-localization KMT legislator and member of the Central Standing Committee, doubted if the KMT-PFP cooperation plan is consistent with mainstream public opinion or the wishes of those at the middle of the political spectrum.

Shyu proposed that the party should conduct opinion surveys to convince its members before making a final decision -- so as to prevent any possible split in the KMT.
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