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Lu adamant on not joining TV debate by Taiwan Society

Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) yesterday said she was under no obligation to take part in the televised debate being hosted by the Taiwan Society today.

Taiwan Society, a pro-independence group, has organized two televised debates for the Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) presidential hopefuls.

The first one will be held from 2pm to 5pm today at the Liberty Times building in Neihu, Taipei.

Lu, who has an acrimonious relationship with the organization, is the only one of the four DPP presidential aspirants who will not take part in the organization's televised debates.

"The Taiwan Society has nothing to do with the DPP. I am not one of its members, either. As such, I am not obligated to join the activity," Lu said in a press release yesterday.

Lu instead urged and encouraged all her fellow DPP members to support the televised forum to be hosted by the party next month.

The DPP will hold two televised forums next month for for Lu, Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌), former premier Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) and DPP Chairman Yu Shyi-kun, who are all vying for the party's nomination for next year's presidential election.

The DPP's first forum will be held in Taipei on April 14, while the second one will take place in Chiayi on April 21.

In the statement yesterday, the vice president mentioned Taiwan Society secretary-general Chet Yang's (楊文嘉) criticism of her on Sept. 16, when Yang said: "Lu is already gearing up to take over the president's position anytime."

"Six months have passed but none of what Yang said has happened. But I've yet to see any sign that he would like to make it up to me. No apology at all. Not even a word. I find it regrettable," Lu's statement read.

"What he said has seriously damaged the image of a vice president. It also hurt my personal feelings, and I took that as an insult and humiliation," it said.

Yang yesterday did not elaborate on his comments against the vice president, saying only that what he said last year was open to challenge.

"I will not make any more comments on the issue at this moment because the focus should be on the debate itself. Was what I said right? Or was it wrong? I leave the decision to the public," Yang said.

Yang added that he admired Su, Yu and Hsieh's willingness to debate on TV.

"I appreciate Su, Hsieh and Yu because they are willing to show their respect for democracy," Yang said.

"But, I also respect the vice president's decision not to take part in the debate. She has the right to do so anyway," he said.
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