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Lien calls Chen's `holy war' a war of terrorism

Taking his presidential campaign to the country's offshore island of Penghu, opposition Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) yesterday slammed President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) talk of a cross-strait "holy war."

Referring to remarks made by Chen at a rally in Hualien County last Monday that the upcoming presidential election "is a holy war between the people of Taiwan and the Chinese Communist Party," Lien said the remarks had left Taiwan's offshore island residents at risk from Chinese military forces.

"The so-called holy war Chen spoke of is actually a war of terrorism," said Lien while presiding over the launch of his campaign headquarters in Penghu. "Such remarks are tantamount to moves that drag the people of Taiwan downward [into doom]."

"A national leader ought not to intentionally create confrontation, provoke war and let people face threats every day," Lien said.

James Soong (宋楚瑜), Lien's People First Party counterpart and running mate in the 2004 presidential election, said Chen's remarks were irresponsible.

"With eyes sets only on winning his own re-election, Chen has even gone as far as to call a holy war and sacrifice the rights of the people here in Penghu and let Penghu residents suffer the blow of artillery shells," Soong said.

"How unreasonable is it that the Penghu people here have to suffer from [Chen's] irresponsible manner?" he added.
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