Sat, Feb 21, 2004 page3

• Chen and Lien to tackle China issue in last debate

  • AP
  • • 
    • 
    • 

  President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) and Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) are preparing to wrangle over the sensitive issue of China during their final debate before the March 20 vote tonight.

  Chen will likely insist that he is best able to protect the nation against China, while Lien was expected to argue he would be more successful in securing peace with Beijing, analysts said.

  The centerpiece of Chen's campaign is the nation's first referendum, which will partly focus on China's missile threat. On the same day as the presidential election, voters will be asked whether the military should bolster its defenses if China refuses to remove hundreds of missiles pointed at the country. Voters will also be asked whether the government should push for talks with its giant rival.

  Today, the candidates will likely open the debate by trading familiar accusations, said Lo Chih-cheng (羅致政), a political science professor at Soochow University.

  "Chen will picture the opposition as pro-China, and Lien will question the government's credibility," Lo said.

  Yang Kai-huang (楊開煌) from National Donghwa University said Chen will ask Lien for his ideas on unification, and try to paint the opposition leader as a supporter of China.

  Lien on the other hand will accuse Chen of making no progress in relations with China, Yang said.

  "Lien will say that over the past four years, Chen has not achieved a peaceful solution to the conflict, while relations have grown more and more tense," Yang said.

  But the academics also expect both candidates to come up with at least partially new proposals.

  The candidates could try and repackage old ideas about peace agreements with China, Lo said.

  Lien's original plan mentioned that such an agreement should remain valid for 50 years, Chen's for 20 years, Lo said.

  Yang also expects the candidates to roll out peace plans and promises of progress on other issues.

  More than 500,000 Taiwanese businesspeople are active in China, and they resent the discomfort and expense of having to travel through a third location, often Hong Kong.

  But whoever wins the election, Lo is optimistic about relations with China. If Lien is the next president, then progress is likely, he said. But even if Chen manages to be re-elected, Lo sees changes ahead.
• Most Popular

  • 1

    Alcaraz, Sinner win their Roland Garros openers

  • 2

    Alcaraz struggles to 4th round in Paris

  • 3

    PSG crush Inter to win trophy

  • 4

    Blackpink to hold concert in Kaohsiung

  • 5

    Conte’s future uncertain even after Serie A title win