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Hu decries links rumors

Taichung Mayor Jason Hu (胡志強) of the KMT yesterday complained that an invitation from the DPP to its anniversary celebrations had been warped by the media into a political issue.

Chinese-language media reported last Monday that the DPP was planning to celebrate the 17th anniversary of its founding on Sept. 28 in Taichung City and was trying to invite Hu.

Hu said that he had initially agreed to attend but that speculation during the past week over his links with the DPP had made him reconsider. He said the exaggeration of the significance of his presence at the DPP gathering was unfair to himself as well as the DPP.

"The whole event now has been blown out of proportion and is becoming a political issue," Hu told reporters yesterday.

"As a result, it has greatly reduced my options and left me little room to maneuver," Hu said, adding that he would uphold his party line if political topics such as the presidential election were raised during the DPP celebrations.

President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) is expected to seek a second term and will face KMT Chairman Lien Chan (連戰), who is heading the pan-blue camp's presidential ticket with PFP James Soong (宋楚瑜) as his running mate.

Hu visited Chen and Premier Yu Shyi-kun last week, securing his city NT$3.2 billion toward the establishment of a NT$6.4 billion branch of the Guggenheim Museum. The Executive Yuan will decide within the next two weeks whether to grant the city NT$2 billion more.

With next year's presidential election looming, Hu's recent interaction with DPP leaders has created much speculation in the media and political circles that the DPP is trying to win the mayor's support.

Hu has denied that his discussions with the DPP consisted of anything more than the interests of his city and the KMT has backed up his assertions.

Yesterday Hu had breakfast with Lien before they visited the city's Hai-wan Arts Museum (海灣美術館).

Lien praised Hu's success in seeking billions in funding from the central government for local projects and congratulated Hu for his outstanding performance.
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