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John Chiang's sister-in-law supports rival in primary

Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator John Chiang (蔣孝嚴), who is hoping to run for Taipei mayor, received a bit of an unwelcome surprise yesterday when he met his sister-in-law at the KMT primary registration and discovered that she was making a public show of support for one of his rivals.

Chiang Fang Chih-yi (蔣方智怡), the widow of former president Chiang Ching-kuo's (蔣經國) third son, accompanied Taipei mayoral hopeful Hau Lung-bin (郝龍斌) to register as a candidate for the KMT primary at party headquarters.

The move prompted cynical remarks from John Chiang, who was born out of wedlock to the former president and his mistress.

"It could be a good thing for me. Taipei residents are very knowledgable and they don't like to see such maneuvering in politics," he said.

Chiang Fang Chih-yi has voiced her support for Hau on several occasions. Confronted with John Chiang's remarks, she denied that she had accompanied Hau as some sort of political maneuver.

"I just do what I think is right. I think that Hau Lung-bin can be a good Taipei mayor, and it's normal to support a good candidate," she said.

John Chiang claimed that such "maneuvers" could earn him "sympathy votes," but then told Hau that he would give him his support if he won the KMT primary and became the party's candidate for Taipei mayor.

Hau also denied that he was playing any political games, and thanked Chiang Fang Chih-yi for her support.

"It's normal in any election to earn support from influential figures. I am fighting for victory in an appropriate manner," he said.

According to KMT primary regulations, would-be candidates must submit a form with 300 signatures from party members before Monday.

In addition to John Chiang and Hau, KMT legislators Alex Tsai (蔡正元) and Ting Shou-chung (丁守中), and former Taipei deputy mayor Yeh Chin-chuan (葉金川) are also in the running.
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