President Chen Shui-bian (
Chen apologized to outgoing Academia Sinica President Lee Yuan-tseh (
"A-bian [Chen refers to himself in the third person by his nickname] apologizes in particular to President Lee [Yuan-tseh] because I failed to improve conditions in the public and private spheres," Chen said. "I not only let President Lee [Yuan-tseh] down but also let the people down. Both the administration and I must reflect and make adjustments accordingly."
PHOTO: CHEN TSE-MING, TAIPEI TIMES
Chen made the remarks yesterday morning while addressing the opening ceremony of the 27th Biennial Convocation of Academicians. Chen's remark was widely seen as a response to a statement Lee made before the legislature's failed attempt to recall the president.
Lee issued a statement on June 25, criticizing the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) administration for having "limited achievements, but abundant corruption scandals." Lee also told Chen that introspection was the best way to put a halt to criticism.
Yesterday marked the first time the two met after the failed recall vote on June 27.
Lee, who presided over yesterday's convocation for the last time in his decade-long term, will be replaced in October by the director of the Genomics Research Center, Wong Chi-huey (
Because Lee has been assigned by Chen to coordinate various reform projects over the years, the president yesterday said that he felt sorry to put Lee in a difficult position, because Lee had to endure unnecessary distress and unfair criticism lodged by the opposition parties.
"For the next two years, A-bian is determined to thoroughly reflect on himself, push for a wide range of reform and continue to delegate powers to ranking officials of the government and the party," he said.
"A-bian will also devote himself to stabilizing the political climate, promoting ethnic harmony and enhancing social unity," he said.
Chen also promised to offer "unconditional assistance" to the institution in its effort to obtain five hectares of land from the Ministry of National Defense for an expansion project.
Chen said that Lee visited him last Friday and hoped that he would help him in this regard.
In addition to giving his personal support, Chen yesterday called on Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (
Describing Lee as his "teacher and friend," Chen complimented Lee's contribution to both the institution and the country over the years.
"President Lee [Yuan-tseh] is someone who sees himself as having a historic mission, is persistent in ideals and beliefs and consistently adopts high standards for himself. All of these deserve our emulation," he said.
The advice Lee offered on major policy issues has been enlightening and the expectations Lee has for Chen and his administration make him realize that he has to humbly listen to the voice of the people, Chen said.
When asked to comment on Chen's apology, Lee told reporters after Chen's speech that the public is watching whether Chen will deliver his promises.
When asked whether he was also watching, Lee replied "of course."
A Chinese aircraft carrier group entered Japan’s economic waters over the weekend, before exiting to conduct drills involving fighter jets, the Japanese Ministry of Defense said yesterday. The Liaoning aircraft carrier, two missile destroyers and one fast combat supply ship sailed about 300km southwest of Japan’s easternmost island of Minamitori on Saturday, a ministry statement said. It was the first time a Chinese aircraft carrier had entered that part of Japan’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ), a ministry spokesman said. “We think the Chinese military is trying to improve its operational capability and ability to conduct operations in distant areas,” the spokesman said. China’s growing
Nine retired generals from Taiwan, Japan and the US have been invited to participate in a tabletop exercise hosted by the Taipei School of Economics and Political Science Foundation tomorrow and Wednesday that simulates a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan in 2030, the foundation said yesterday. The five retired Taiwanese generals would include retired admiral Lee Hsi-min (李喜明), joined by retired US Navy admiral Michael Mullen and former chief of staff of the Japan Self-Defense Forces general Shigeru Iwasaki, it said. The simulation aims to offer strategic insights into regional security and peace in the Taiwan Strait, it added. Foundation chair Huang Huang-hsiung
PUBLIC WARNING: The two students had been tricked into going to Hong Kong for a ‘high-paying’ job, which sent them to a scam center in Cambodia Police warned the public not to trust job advertisements touting high pay abroad following the return of two college students over the weekend who had been trafficked and forced to work at a cyberscam center in Cambodia. The two victims, surnamed Lee (李), 18, and Lin (林), 19, were interviewed by police after landing in Taiwan on Saturday. Taichung’s Chingshui Police Precinct said in a statement yesterday that the two students are good friends, and Lin had suspended her studies after seeing the ad promising good pay to work in Hong Kong. Lee’s grandfather on Thursday reported to police that Lee had sent
A Chinese ship ran aground in stormy weather in shallow waters off a Philippines-controlled island in the disputed South China Sea, prompting Filipino forces to go on alert, Philippine military officials said yesterday. When Philippine forces assessed that the Chinese fishing vessel appeared to have run aground in the shallows east of Thitu Island (Jhongye Island, 中業島) on Saturday due to bad weather, Philippine military and coast guard personnel deployed to provide help, but later saw that the ship had been extricated, Philippine navy regional spokesperson Ellaine Rose Collado said. No other details were immediately available, including if there were injuries among
RSS