Magazine says DPP is considering asking Vincent Siew to fill VP slot

The latest edition of the Chinese-language Business Weekly (商業週刊) said that high-ranking DPP officials are working on inviting KMT Vice Chairman Vincent Siew (蕭萬長) to be President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) partner for the next year's presidential election.

"Siew tried to resign his position as the vice chairman of the KMT first in March, then a few weeks ago but Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) did not approve his resignation. In the meantime, DPP high-ranking officials were trying to contact Siew to see if he is willing to be Chen's partner for the next presidential election," the Business Weekly reported.

According to the story, Chenmet with Siew after he realized that Siew had tried to resign twice and wanted to know whether it was possible for Siew to join the DPP team for the presidential campaign.

In the meantime, an owner of a private enterprise, who is close to the government, has also contacted Siew and has invited him to take a business counselor's position at his company since Siew has good connections with the business community in China and Taiwan.

The story said that the DPP realized that economic issues will still be the biggest concern if Chen wants to win next year's presidential election. As a result, the party needs an ideal candidate with economic and business expertise but the DPP has not confirmed whether Siew is the ideal candidate.

In response to Business Weekly's report, Siew's office confirmed that he had offered his resignation twice but he hasn't met with the president recently.