Premier Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) and independent Legislator Chiu Yi (邱毅) yesterday continued bickering over whether Hsieh had mentioned "the empress" -- referring to first lady Wu Shu-jen (吳淑珍) -- during a phone conversation with Chiu.
"I swear. If Hsieh never said so, as he claimed, I will immediately resign. Also, if I'm lying, I will be struck and killed by a car once I step out of this door. However, if he is lying, I think the premier should step down," Chiu said.
Chiu was not hit by a car yesterday.
Chiu added he was willing to take a polygraph to prove that he had not been lying.
On Tuesday, Chiu said Hsieh had confirmed that he was following up with hints about the Kaohsiung Rapid Transit Corp (KRTC) scandal, but had also reminded the lawmaker "not to touch the empress" because he would only come to a dead end if he did.
Chiu said the "empress" was Wu, hinting that she might be involved in the scandal.
Chiu said it was important whether Hsieh depicted Wu as an "empress." He said that Hsieh used to call Wu the "empress" when he was the Kaohsiung mayor, so it was a lie for Hsieh to deny that he never used such a term to depict Wu.
In response to Chiu's remarks, Hsieh yesterday said that he is not the one who had been lying, but that Chiu was.
"First of all, the first lady has nothing to do with [the KRTC scandal]," Hsieh said. "Also, a polygraph can only be conducted by law enforcement officers once they have launched an investigation. It is not something that Chiu can do just because he wants to."
Chiu said he will file a slander suit against the premier to "respond" to the premier's comments.
Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr arrived in Taiwan last night to kick off his first visit to the country since beginning his second term earlier this year. After arriving at Taoyuan International Airport at around 6:30 pm, Whipps and his delegation were welcomed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍). Speaking to gathered media, the Palauan leader said he was excited and honored to be back in Taiwan on his first state visit to Taiwan since he was sworn in this January. Among those traveling with Whipps is Minister of State Gustav N. Aitaro, Public Infrastructure
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