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Lien cautious on Bush's remarks

Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT)Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) yesterday responded cautiously to US President George W. Bush's warning against President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) potential moves towards independence, while his party's top official said Bush's remarks were not surprising.

Lien said the impact of Bush's announcement of US opposition to any of Taiwan's attempts to change its relationship with China during Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's (溫家寶) US visit "remained to be seen."

"The impact of Bush's remarks will involve a wide range of issues regarding relations between China, Taiwan and the US. We need to observe developments for a couple of days," Lien said.

Lien said that whether Chen's plan to press ahead with the referendum will fuel cross-strait tensions "completely depends on whether Chen cares about the lives of Taiwan's 23 million people."

Su Chi (蘇起), co-convener of the KMT-People First Party (PFP) alliance's national defense task force and a former chairman of the Mainland Affairs Council, said at a press conference he was not surprised at Bush's explicit warning to Chen.

"According to my understanding, the last thing Bush wanted to raise in his talks with Wen was the Taiwan issue. Bush wanted to concentrate on trade, North Korea and anti-terrorism," Su said.

But, he said, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government, chanting Chen's "five noes" pledge -- which promised no vote on Taiwan's independence -- nevertheless went ahead with its plans for a new constitution, a change in the nation's title and holding referendums.

"These gestures by the DPP government had left the US no choice but to make its stance clear. Chen rejected the US' goodwill and now has to receive his punishment. Why must he anger the US, our best friend?" Su asked.

Taiwan does not fear war, but it should not court war, he said.

Noting Taiwan's capacity to maneuver with China has been diminishing during Chen's term, Su said Chen has irritated both his enemy, China, and his friend, the US.

The deteriorating Taiwan-US relationship and Chen's failure to visit any non-allied countries since he took power have plunged Taiwan into diplomatic isolation unprecedented in 50 years, Su said.

Meanwhile, after the DPP formally nominated Chen yesterday as its presidential candidate, Lien said he hoped to have an "open and fair" competition with Chen in the course of the presidential campaign, in order to strengthen the country's democracy.

KMT Spokesman Alex Tsai (蔡正元) asked Chen not to use government resources for his campaign or sacrifice Taiwan's security to gain votes.

"According to reliable sources, the DPP has been mobilizing people to join its rallies by giving them rewards," Tsai said.

With the DPP set to announce Chen's running mate today, the KMT yesterday published the results of its weekly polls on presidential candidates conducted since the end of September.

The polls showed Chen has a greater chance of winning the election if he picks Taipei County Commissioner Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) as his running mate, rather than Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮).
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