Wu Poh-hsiung (
After Wu was slighted, James Soong (宋楚瑜) was kind enough to send a garland of flowers to him, expressing his condolences. It was a generous act at a difficult time. But this simple gesture, poignant as it may be, should not bring us to the conclusion that Soong will nominate Wu as his running mate.
Candidates in the 2000 presidential race will have to play their cards carefully and skillfully, balancing offense against defense. Even if they lose a hand, they have to unnerve their opponents, as any break in the enemy's morale is a great bonus for those on the offensive.
Soong, originally from the KMT, has the additional weapon of many friends within the party.
Soong left Taiwan for the US after Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) issued his statement, "Everything is empty. Be free and natural," giving him time to cool down and reflect on the president's words.
After returning to Taiwan, he was again rebuffed after attending a meeting of the KMT's Central Standing Committee. It added insult to injury. Only Wu expressed any kind of solidarity with Soong. Soong's support for Wu is most likely an indirect way of striking back at the president.
If Wu stays with the KMT, it will have little effect on Soong, but Soong would surely benefit if Wu were to leave. The tight, three-way upcoming presidential race will mean that any damage to an opponent will bring great benefits to the other candidates. Therein lies Wu's strategic importance.
The KMT is skilled in power struggles. Lee is the master, while Soong -- far from a novice himself -- is in no hurry to make concessions. Chen Shui-bian (
Compare Lee's meeting with Mark Chen (
Chin Heng-wei is the editor in chief of Contemporary, a monthly magazine.
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