Government officials migrate to DPP

Deputy Secretary-General to the President Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) told the Taipei Times yesterday that he would join the DPP in early August, as the party continues its drive to recruit to its ranks more members of the government.

Wu, who said he has been a KMT member since he was young, said he would join the DPP next month, when the party is set to hold a ceremony to present the political appointees that it has recruited.

The party has been trying to increase its talent base by recruiting senior members of the government.

Several have already agreed to join, including Council for Cultural Affairs Vice Chairman Wu Mi-cha (吳密察), Council of Labor Affairs Vice Chairman Kuo Chi-jen (郭吉仁), Mainland Affairs Council Vice Chairman Chen Ming-tong (陳明通), Minister of Transportation and Communications Lin Ling-san (林陵三) and Public Construction Commission Chairwoman Kuo Yao-chi (郭瑤琪).

Wu was a guest at a dinner organized by Presidential Office Secretary-General Chen Shih-meng (陳師孟) and National Security Council Secretary-General Chiou I-jen (邱義仁) on Saturday night to invite officials to become party members.

Also on the guest list were Lin, Kuo, Wu Mi-cha, Minister of Foreign Affairs Eugene Chien (簡又新) and National Youth Commission Chairwoman Lin Fang-mei (林芳玫) and Vice Chairman Lin Te-chia (林德嘉).

Asked whether she would join the party, Kuo said she was a political appointee designated by the ruling party, thus "joining the party is in line with the spirit of party politics."

When asked by reporters about the recruitment drive, President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) yesterday declined to comment.

However, Chen Shih-meng (陳師孟) told reporters yesterday that the party would respect the decisions of government officials over whether to join the party.

"Their decisions will not affect the performance of their duties," he said.

The foreign minster yesterday ruled out the DPP's invitation to join the party, saying that diplomatic affairs have unique characteristics.

"Keeping my political affiliation independent will benefit those affairs to a certain degree," Chien said.

Chien was a KMT member until January last year, when he let his membership lapse.

Vice Premier Lin Hsin-yi (林信義) and Lin Chuan (林全), head of the Directorate General of Budget Accounting and Statistics, have also decided not to join the DPP.