Lien still plans to step down in summer

Despite calls for Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) to remain in his post and continue leading the party, a high-ranking party official said yesterday that he sees no signs of change in Lien's decision to step down in summer.

Thanking grassroots party officials for their widespread support for Lien to stay, KMT Secretary-General Lin Feng-cheng (林豐正) said that as far he knows, Lien has not altered his decision to quit the party's top post in August.

It was also reported that Formosa Plastics Group Chairman Wang Yung-ching (王永慶) -- one of Taiwan's most influential business tycoons -- also urged Lien to stay on in a recent meeting with the KMT head, citing the need to help seek benefits for Taiwan companies with operations in China. Claiming that he has no knowledge of the matter, Lin stressed that he has not sensed any change in Lien's resolve to retire when his tenure ends.