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John Chiang backs Wang's bid for KMT post

Claiming that Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) has been a follower of the "Chiang Ching-kuo (蔣經國) policy line," the former president's son John Chiang (蔣孝嚴) called on Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) members to support Wang in his bid to take over the party helm.

Wang is vying with Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) for the chairmanship of the party.

The first-ever KMT grassroots members' election of their leader is scheduled for Friday.

John Chiang made his appeal at a seminar attended by more than 200 veterans and their families from Taipei County.

They were invited by KMT Legislator Chou Hsi-wei (周鍚瑋) to discuss ways and means to protect their interests and benefits.

VETERAN VOTE

Chiang urged the veterans and their families to throw their support behind Wang, who claimed he has worked hard over the past years to increase, not decrease, budgets for the veterans' community.

Chiang tried to help Wang dispel doubts about his loyalty to the Republic of China (ROC) as some have suspected that Wang has been a follower of the Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) policy line, that is, a supporter of extinguishing the ROC to realize Taiwan's independence.

"In the past, I was among those who followed Lee," said Chiang, who added that KMT Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) and People First Party Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜) were also Lee's followers at one point in time.

It's not fair to link Wang to the Lee policy line, he said.

Wang said veterans, the title of the ROC and its Constitution are all "precious assets" that need to be protected by all means and must not be "abolished."

Respecting veterans, most of whom moved to Taiwan with Chiang Kai-shek (蔣介石) in 1949, and insisting on the continuity of the ROC and the ROC Constitution was the fundamental policy line of Chiang Ching-kuo, who died in 1988 and was succeeded by Lee.

`SLANDER'

Wang said some people have been "slandering" him by calling him a follower of the Lee Teng-hui policy line.

"Would Lee say that the Diaoyutai Islets are part of ROC territory? Would Lee say that he is against Taiwan independence?" Wang said.

Wang pledged that he will act as a "harmonizer" in national politics, and to do that the largest opposition party that he hopes to lead must shed the practice of inciting ethnic divisions.

"Otherwise, how can we oppose other parties using the same tactic in the future?" he asked.

He said only when ethnic divisions are dissolved, can the KMT have a chance to return to power.
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