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Taiwan Quick Take

■ Politics
Cabinet says Lien `childish'
Cabinet spokesman Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) yesterday dismissed Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan's (連戰) idea to establish eight regional governments in Taiwan as impracticable, irresponsible and "nearly childish." Lien has said in recent presidential election rallies that if elected president in March, he will make it a priority to push for the establishment of eight regional governments to govern respectively the northern region, the southern region, the central region, "the eastern Taiwan special administrative region," "the Penghu special administrative region," "the Matsu special administrative region," "the Kinmen special administrative region" and "the Aborigines' autonomous region." A KMT official said Lien will establish the regional governments in several stages. Lin said Lien's plan will make Taiwan's administrative systems too complicated and impracticable.

■ Politics
Wu to sue Lien
First lady Wu Shu-chen (吳淑珍) plans to file a libel suit today against Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) over the KMT's accusation that President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) had realized a 125 percent increase in his investments in stocks and bonds, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) campaign chief Wu Nai-jen (吳乃仁) said yesterday. Denying the KMT's charge that the personal wealth of Chen and Wu had grown to NT$400 million over the past four years, Wu said on Friday that she would go after the KMT for making false accusations. On Friday, Lien had filed a libel suit against Chen over the DPP's accusation that Lien's family had amassed its wealth through illegal means.

■ Environment
Water resources hall built
An education hall featuring the water resources and ecological environment at the Feitsui Reservoir in northern Taiwan was inaugurated yesterday. A spokesman for the Feitsui Reservoir Administration said yesterday that it took NT$40 million (US$1.12 million) and 17 months to establish the hall, in which visitors can receive information on the importance of water resources and the ways to conserve them. They can also see various kinds of plants and insects that can only be found in sub-tropical rain forests. He said the hall is big enough to accommodate 40,000 visitors each year. The Feitsui Reservoir is the main source of water for the greater Taipei area.

■ Cross-Strait Ties
Lu plans peace alliance
Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) said yesterday that she plans to organize an alliance to save Taiwan through peace. Addressing a campaign rally in Taichung, Lu said Beijing has never taken a friendly or sincere attitude toward Taiwan, despite President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) having tried to improve cross-strait relations since he assumed the presidency on May 20, 2000. Beijing has even deployed a large number of missiles targeting Taiwan, imposing a tremendous threat to the country's security, she said. Of the world's 192 countries, Lu noted, China is the only one that is hostile toward Taiwan and has the goal of taking the country under its jurisdiction. To organize the alliance is to tell the international community of Beijing's missile threat and to make the voice of the peace-loving Taiwanese people heard by the world, the vice president said.

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