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KMT's Kuan denies meeting Chen Yunlin

Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Vice Chairman Kuan Chung (關中) yesterday dismissed allegations that he went to China to talk with the head of the Chinese State Council office on Taiwan to help Beijing "understand" the KMT's proposed referendum on "returning" to the UN using the name "Republic of China" or other "practical titles."

The Chinese-language Liberty Times (the Taipei Times' sister newspaper) reported yesterday that Kuan had met Taiwan Affairs Office Chen Yunlin (陳雲林) in Shenzhen on Friday.

The report cited an unidentified source as saying that the meeting was held to "decrease Chinese misunderstanding of KMT presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou" (馬英九).

Another unidentified source was quoted as saying that Beijing had tried to convey its reservations about the KMT's referendum bid to Ma through former KMT chairman Lien Chan (連戰).

Kuan issued a statement yesterday saying that the KMT decided to launch its referendum drive because it could "express the public's opinion" and "would not put Taiwan at risk."

"The KMT was not under any influence from outside forces, nor does it care about any reaction from China," he said.

He said the Liberty Times report was "far from the truth" because he went to Guangzhou after a stopover in Hong Kong on Thursday for a ceremony where he received a certificate as a guest professor at Jinan University.

Kuan said he returned to Taiwan the following morning and met friends before attending some academic events in Tainan City in the afternoon.

Saiying he was not authorized to contact people in other countries about the referendum bid,Kuan dismissed the report as "manipulation" by "someone or a certain concerned political party."

KMT Spokesman Su Jun-pin (蘇俊賓) said the story was part of the Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) mudslinging strategy.

"I believe the DPP has a plan to try to link the KMT's referendum bid with China," Su said. "I believe doing this is wrong."
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