Lee-Chen spat for show, analysts say

To improve the deteriorating condition, the Ministry of Finance this month introduced a series of reform measures, which Lee said were not in farmers' interests.

On Monday, Lee warned the DPP that it risked losing power if it enforced reform measures proposed by the finance ministry to reorganize the farmers' and fishermen's credit cooperatives.

Chen fought back the next day. Reaffirming the government's resolve, Chen accused those who oppose such reform of cowardice, and vowed to implement reforms even if it cost the government its power.

"Determination to reform always takes pain and incurs a price. Pushing for reform may cost us our political power, but not as surely as not pushing for reform," he said.

This was the first time the president had openly confronted Lee, who has vowed to help the DPP consolidate its power and even founded another party, the TSU, to achieve this goal.

Despite the media interpreting the incident as a major breaking point in the Chen-Lee relationship, predicting that the two would go their separate ways, political analysts viewed it differently.

Yang reckoned that Lee is utilizing the issue to siphon his grassroots supporters from the KMT to the TSU by appealing to them. If he didn't do that, Yang said, these supporters would remain loyal to the KMT or the PFP, a splinter party from the KMT.

On the other hand, President Chen has to show the public his determination to reform by clinging to his position.

Endorsing Yang's opinions, Ku Chung-hwa (顧忠華), professor of sociology at National Chengchi University, called it a norm for parties to advance their own policies to attract their own supporters.

Ku saw the conflict as a minor incident, which wouldn't have any negative impact on the relationship between the two men. "The cooperation between the two parties will continue," he said.