Wang says Chad affair may affect visit of Chen Yunlin

The severing of diplomatic ties between Taiwan and Chad will be a huge obstacle for Chen Yunlin (陳雲林), the head of China's Taiwan Affairs Office, in attending a forum organized by the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) in Taipei, Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) said yesterday.

"Initially, it seemed that it was possible [for Chen to come to Taiwan], but the breaking off of relations with Chad means the situation has changed," Wang said, adding that he had spoken with government officials about the matter.

Wang the remarks yesterday after meeting with KMT Chairman Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九).

"I told Ma that I am not able to help the party with the matter," Wang said.

The KMT is planning to file an application to the government inviting Chen to attend a cross-strait forum on agricultural cooperation to be held in October.

"As far as I know, the government was considering approving the application, but this may have changed," he said.

Also yesterday, Wang accepted Ma's request to serve as campaign manager for Huang Jun-ying (黃俊英), the KMT's Kaohsiung mayoral candidate, but he rejected an offer to be honorary director of Hau Lung-bin's (郝龍斌) Taipei mayoral bid.

Wang week said that People First Party Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜), who is likely to contest the Taipei mayoral election with Hau, was highly suited for the position of Taipei mayor.