Pan-blue camp decides Wang was giving good advice

The KMT's Legislative Yuan Speaker Wang Jin-pyng, second left, and Vice Speaker Chiang Ping-kun, second right, joins other KMT officials yesterday in vowing to strive for party unity. PHOTO: LO PEI-TEH, TAIPEI TIMES

Members of the pan-blue camp yesterday said legislative speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) was giving well-meant advice to KMT Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) and PFP Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜) when he said they should demonstrate their sincerity in putting the interests of the people first in next year's presidential campaign.

Wang, who is also the KMT vice chairman, was still evasive about whether he would assume the post of director-general of the KMT-PFP alliance's presidential election campaign.

He said on Thursday that he needs to know what the vision is that delivers the impetus to Lien and Soong's candidacy.

Wang said he has been hesitant to take up the leadership of the campaign because he wanted the assurance that the pan-blue presidential team is sincere about putting the people's interests first.

Lien is running for president with Soong as his running mate.

"The pair must convince the electorate of their sincerity to serve the people rather than divide up office spoils," said Wang.

"While Wang's remarks might seem unpleasant to our ears, they were, indeed, words of caution and good advice."

Chiu Yi, PFP legislator

He denied implying that Lien and Soong had no ideals. He said he just needed to be assured of the pair's sincerity to serve public and national interest.

Counter to claims by the DPP that Wang's comments were an indication of uncertainty within the KMT-PFP alliance and an insinuation that Lien and Soong care only for their personal fame and power, KMT Legislator Lo Shih-hsiung (羅世雄) expressed a more positive interpretation.

"Wang's comments were mainly meant to allay southern voters' misgivings on the pairing of Lien and Soong as running mates in the presidential election," Lo said.

Lo, a legislator representing a constituency in Kaohsiung City, was alluding to the known general mistrust lingering among southern pan-blue supporters regarding Soong. They say he often takes a high-handed approach and are worried about his motive in agreeing to pair with Lien in next March's presidential election.

"Given Wang's long-term experience in the southern region, he had the responsibility to allay locals' doubts before he could accept the offer to lead the alliance's campaign headquarters," Lo said.

A lawmaker from Kaohsiung County since 1975, Wang has been viewed as an influential person with the potential to be a national political leader.

He would be able to significantly expand the pan-blue camp's popularity in southern Taiwan, which has traditionally been regarded as a pan-green stronghold.

"The point of Wang's comments was not to question Lien and Soong's intention to serve the people, but rather to provide an opportunity for the two to re-state their determination and commitment to serve the public and the nation," Lo said.

He added that Wang's remarks also reflect his own cautiousness regarding major national issues.

The KMT's legislator-at-large in the Legislative Yuan, Huang Chao-shun (黃昭順), said Wang's comments were well-intended.

"Wang's remarks were good advice to the pan-blue camp: to not let their guard down and indulge in self-complacency and the idea that victory is a sure thing," Huang, a Kaohsiung City resident, said.

"Wang's remarks are timely reminders to members of the pan-blue camp of what they are fighting for," she added.

PFP Legislator Chiu Yi (邱毅) agreed that what Wang said were well-meant words of caution to both the KMT and the PFP -- especially to those who have been indulging themselves by establishing their positions in the parties' inner circle of authority ahead of next year's presidential election.

Chiu is optimistic about Lien and Soong's chances of winning the 2004 presidential election, and believes the pan-blue camp has a great chance of becoming the ruling party next year, although he admits that competition to gain a position in the KMT's Central Standing Committee in the upcoming term has been fiercer than ever.

"While Wang's remarks might seem unpleasant to our ears, they were, indeed, words of caution and good advice," said Chiu.