The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus yesterday challenged Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) vice presidential candidate Su Jia-chyuan (蘇嘉全) to state clearly his party’s stance on several key issues, including whether it would grant a special amnesty to jailed former president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) if it returns to power.
The demand came on the eve of a televised debate for the three vice presidential candidates — Su, Premier Wu Den-yih (吳敦義) of the KMT and Lin Ruey-shiung (林瑞雄) of the People First Party (PFP).
KMT caucus whip Pan Wei-kang (潘維剛) said Su should also state clearly the party’s stance on the so-called “1992 consensus,” which the KMT claims refers to a tacit agreement reached in 1992 between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait on “one China, with each side having its own interpretation” and which it said facilitated the development of cross-strait relations.
The DPP rejects the notion that any such consensus exists.
Pan said Su should also address the issue of Taiwan’s economic performance coming in last among the “four Asian dragons” because of the DPP’s closed-door policy during its eight-year administration.
“Su should also address misgivings about the fact that scandal-plagued officials from Chen’s administration are in the DPP campaign team for the Jan. 14 elections, and the concern that they will become part of the ruling team if the DPP regains power,” Pan said.
Meanwhile, Wu’s staff said the premier would focus on the government’s performance in the debate and would stress that “the administration has accomplished over the past three years what the previous DPP administration could not achieve during its eight years in power.”
Wu recently said he would report on the KMT administration’s performance, but that he would not overlook its shortcomings.
Su’s staff said Su was preparing to honestly face questions about his controversial farmhouse or his wife’s presence nine years ago at a party that included a male strip show.
Su has experience in the domestic and agricultural areas, but needs to strengthen his preparations for issues on cross-strait relations, international trade and diplomacy, DPP spokesman Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁) said.
As for Lin, PFP spokesman Lai Yueh-chien (賴岳謙) said the party was not worried about his performance in the debate.
Lin, a public health expert, only needs to familiarize himself with the rhythm of the debate so that he can express his ideas in the limited time available to each candidate, Lai said.
On the issue of the electromagnetic waves Lin claims have been used to attack him, Lai said Lin hoped to raise the issue to enhance public awareness of the technology and that he was not worried his rivals might dwell on the issue.
Lin recently said he was bombarded by 18,750 kilohertz electromagnetic waves for three straight nights in September, which he blamed on the government.
The National Security Bureau later said it has neither the technology nor the devices to disturb anyone in this way.
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