With the next presidential election quickly approaching, KMT Taichung Mayor Jason Hu's (胡志強) recent frequent contact with the DPP administration has caused some to wonder if there is something more to their casual relations than meets the eye.
Hu called on President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) at Chen's office earlier this month to talk about the development of Taichung City, and was present at a dinner given by Chen to a group of journalists in Taichung City when Chen stopped there on a trip around the island.
A week later, Hu was seen again at Premier Yu Shyi-kun's office in Taipei last Monday calling on Yu, seeking the central government's financial support for the establishment of a branch of the Guggenheim Museum in Taichung.
A promise
Hu was given a promise from the Executive Yuan during the meeting that it would grant Taichung City NT$3.2 billion toward its planned establishment of a NT$6.4 billion branch of the Guggenheim Museum and will decide within the next two weeks whether to grant the city NT$2 billion more.
In his defense, Hu stressed that his visits were all aimed at boosting the city's image and said it was inappropriate for the media to speculate about the election when his meetings were about local development projects.
Expressing confidence in Hu's loyalty to the KMT, KMT spokesman Alex Tsai (
"Hu is a faithful member of the KMT. The KMT is not concerned about [Hu's change of heart] and outsiders should stop worrying about it too," Tsai said.
Media and political circles were drawn to the recent friendly interaction between DPP leaders and Hu, and have been speculating that the DPP is trying to win over the popular KMT mayor's support in the run up to the 2004 presidential election.
Ground-breaking ceremony
While presiding over a groundbreaking ceremony at the central Taiwan science-based industrial park late last month, Chen spoke well of Hu, saying that Hu's ability surpasses that of Taipei City Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) and other KMT politicians, and that the DPP government supports Hu's administration.
In addition, local Chinese-language media had reported last Monday that the DPP is planning to celebrate its 17th founding anniversary on Sept. 28 in Taichung City and is trying to invite Hu to attend the political gala.
Noting the friendliness expressed by the DPP, KMT Legislator Liao Fung-te (
DPP leaders
"The DPP leaders are showing their goodwill toward Hu because they wish to cash in on Hu's positive image as part of their attempts to woo undecided voters," Liao said. "Hu might as well go with the flow and appeal for more financial support in the best interests of his city."
"Their interaction is about political maneuvers," Liao said.
"The one who is more skillful at [political maneuvering,] will end up scoring more," he said.
KMT legislative caucus leader Lee Chia-chin (
Exercising caution
"Hu should be cautious when associating with the DPP and avoid falling into part of the DPP's campaign strategy during election time," Lee said.
Liao added that, even if the local public have a good impression of Chen as a result of Chen's friendly interactions with Hu, their votes would go toward the pan-blue camp's presidential ticket headed by KMT Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) because Hu is a true pan-blue individual and thus it is impossible for Hu to have a change of heart and join the pan-green camp.
Hu's loyalty
Chin Heng-wei (
Acknowledging Hu's fierce pan-blue loyalty, Chin said that while Chen's open interaction with Hu is unlikely to win his support, the goodwill conveyed by assisting Hu would nonetheless leave a positive impression on locals toward the DPP administration.
Chin said that the overt media attention on the interaction between Hu and the DPP of what are supposed to be normal encounters between a local government chief and the central government was a result of underlying problematic issues within the KMT.
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