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Presidential election 2008: 20 days to go: Chen Shui-bian joins Frank Hsieh on the presidential hustings

President Chen Shui-bian, right, and Democratic Progressive Party presidential candidate Frank Hsieh pose during a campaign event in Taipei yesterday. PHOTO: SAM YEH, AFP

President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) yesterday shared the stage with Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) and he called on supporters of "A-bian," Chen's nickname, to campaign for Hsieh.

The rally was the first time the two had shared the same stage since the legislative elections in January.

"I hope you all bring the willpower you put into my campaigns in the past into full play to campaign for Hsieh and [running mate] Su Tseng-chang [蘇貞昌]," Chen said to hundreds of supporters, all members of the "Friends of A-bian," which was established in 1998.

After the DPP suffered a defeat in the legislative elections, Chen said he would not take part in campaign events for Hsieh, either in public or in the media, if his participation were deemed to be a negative influence on the outcome of the election.

However, Chen started canvassing voters for Hsieh not only at the rally in Taipei yesterday, but also rallies organized by the "Friends of A-bian" in Taichung County, Taichung and Miaoli County. He is also scheduled to do an interview with the Public Television Service tomorrow.

Addressing the crowd at the rally yesterday, Hsieh said he appreciated Chen's support for him.

Hsieh vowed to follow Chen's lead and give priority to Taiwan's interests if elected president.

"Being president of the country is to be a defender of Taiwan's interests, security and dignity," Hsieh said. "[Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) presidential candidate] Ma [Ying-jeou (馬英九)], who advocates a `cross-strait common market,' is incapable of being such a defender."

With the implementation of a "cross-strait common market," Ma would remove all tariffs imposed on materials and goods imported from China and lift bans on Chinese workers, which would deal a heavy blow to local industries and result in unemployment, Hsieh said.

While US Senator Hillary Clinton solicited votes for her resolution to counter Chinese goods, and her rival Barack Obama has said he supports a prohibition on toy products imported from China, during the US Democratic primaries recently, is it not strange that one of Taiwan's presidential candidates would advocate more opening up to China? Hsieh said.
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