■ PoliticsTSU backs Chen campaign
The TSU will launch an all-out effort to help campaign for President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) presidential bid next year because the party's spiritual leader Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) has promised to help Chen retain his grip on the country's helm, a TSU legislative whip said yesterday. According to TSU lawmaker Lo Jhih-ming (羅志明), Lee has promised to help Chen's election campaign to give the president room to tackle the nation's sluggish economy. The TSU will mobilize its members during activities initiated by Lee scheduled for May and August. At a gathering of the Association of Friends of Lee Teng-hui scheduled to be held at the Grand Hotel on May 4, the TSU hopes to attract 1,200 supporters. Also, at the opening ceremony of the Lee Teng-hui School scheduled for May 17, Lee will invite Chen to share the stage with him, Lo said.
■ Politics
Siew hits back at claims
KMT Vice Chairman Vincent Siew (蕭萬長) yesterday rebutted a local Chinese-language magazine article that said he might pair up with President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) for the next year's presidential election. "It is impossible that I will pair up with Chen for the presidential election," said Siew, who returned yesterday from a trip to Japan. Siew stressed that his expertise is in economics and business and that he is willing to contribute if the ruling government needs his assistance in these areas, but no more. The latest edition of a Chinese-language business weekly claimed that high-ranking DPP officials are working on inviting Siew to be Chen's partner for next March's election.
■ High-speed rail
Cabinet denies wrongdoing
There is nothing wrong in the government's investment in Taiwan's first high-speed railway which is being built by a private corporation with the government's permission, said Executive Yuan spokesman Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) on Friday. Noting that the railway is a major national construction project and is carrying the hopes of all the people, Lin said some opposition lawmakers are critical of the project, but that this comes from misunderstandings surrounding the government's investment. The government investment, through state-owned companies, was consistent with the law, Lin said, adding that the government welcomes lawmakers' supervision of the project but critics should base their criticisms on fact.
■ Cross-strait ties
Lee blasts pro-China groups
Former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) yesterday said that people who don't recognize the value of "one country on each side of the Taiwan Strait" have undermined Taiwan's strength. Lee said certain pro-China political parties, politicians and media groups have jointly suffocated the hopes of Taiwan's people by opposing the learning of Taiwanese history and culture and by attempting to hand Taiwan's democracy back to an authoritarian regime. Lee said it is preposterous that China labels Taiwan a "renegade province of China." He said Taiwan has never had any revolt, and President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) advocated principle "one country on each side of the Taiwan Strait" clearly defines cross-strait relations. The former president made the remarks yesterday at a meeting of the Association of Friends of Lee Teng-hui in Hualien.
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