Wed, Mar 01, 2000 page3

• Lien says he will walk `Lee's path'

  BACKING The KMT's' presidential candidate is trying to scotch rumors that support from reunificationist Chen Li-an has been bought by Lien's jettisoning of President Lee Teng-hui's `two states' cross-strait policy

  • By Jou Ying-Cheng / STAFF REPORTER
  • • 
    • 
    • 

  Expressing gratitude to former KMT luminary Chen Li-an (陳履安) for endorsing his candidacy on Monday, the party's presidential candidate, Lien Chan (連戰), paid a personal visit to Chen, during which the candidate reiterated that his policy is not in conflict with the "special state-to-state" formula proposed by President Lee Teng-hui (李登輝).

  "The most important point is cross-strait ties," Chen said, while receiving Lien at his Hwa-yu Foundation (化育基金會). Lien also reiterated that he will create a proper environment for the two sides to move into the so-called "medium-stage" of relations as defined by the National Unification Guidelines (國統綱領), namely, the beginning of official contacts and negotiations between the two sides.

  Asked by the media if his "one China, respective interpretations" theory is compatible with Lee Teng-hui's (李登輝) "special state-to-state" policy, Lien stated that there was no contradiction between the two ideas.

  

  Presidential candidate Lien Chan pays a visit yesterday to his friend and former political heavyweight Chen Li-an who openly endorsed Lien's bid on Monday.

  PHOTO: CHIANG YING-YING, TAIPEI TIMES

  "Some have asserted that my views are different from President Lee's, and that I am forcing President Lee to abdicate early from his position as the KMT's chairman," Lien said.

  "But they are just trying to drive a wedge between President Lee and myself."

  "My views and those of Lee are consistent," Lien said.

  Later in the same day, in a speech to local supporters Lien again stressed: "The path I am to walk is what President Lee called democratic reform, and rational reform."

  Later yesterday in a public speech, the president himself said that the KMT's mainland policy "is the best," and that Lien would follow his path.

  Chen Shei-saint (陳學聖), a spokesman for Lien, said that the DPP's strategy is to make the most of perceived differences between Lee and Lien, to try to siphon votes from people who have a strong native Taiwanese consciousness and support Lee, away from Lien and over to Chen Shui-bian.

  There has been speculation that Chen Li-an may have deliberately implied that Lien is somewhat "different" from Lee to appeal to voters who can accept Lien but do not like Lee, but without alienating voters who approve of the current president.

  Chen Li-an, a former head of the Control Yuan and a harsh critic of Lee who ran for the presidency in 1996, on Monday called on the electorate to vote for Lien, saying that Lien's mainland policies are moderate and safe and criticized Lee's "special state-to-state" declaration as having escalated tensions across the strait. This has led to rumors of a rift between Lee and Lien.

  Lien's opponents have jumped on his apparent distancing of himself from Lee's "state-to-state" formula. Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁), the DPP candidate, insisted that Lien and Lee's two views of Taiwan's status are not compatible.

  "`One China' does not equal `state-to-state,'" Chen said.

  Independent candidate James Soong (宋楚瑜) also criticized Lien by claiming he has said different things respectively to the public and to Chen Li-an.

  Huang Yi-chiao (黃義交), Soong's campaign aide, commenting on Chen Li-an's (陳履安) announcement of his support for Lien, said the former politician was wrong in saying Lien was the "perfect person" for handling cross-strait negotiations. He added that Soong recently debated in fluent English with scholars from China during an interview with CNN. He is a better person for cross-strait talks, he said. Huang also said Chen Li-an supported Lien because of their similar backgrounds, related to famous political figures and privileged families.

  Chen Shui-bian also weighed in on the subject disagreeing that Lien is the best person for cross-strait talks. Chen said Lien told Chen Li-an he would support one China but in front of President Lee Tung-hui (李登輝) echoed the President's "state-to-state" theory. Lien is contradicting himself, Chen said, adding that he always supports the concept of Taiwan first.

  Chiu Yi-jen (邱義仁), the DPP's campaign director, said Chen Li-an's endorsement of Lien only highlights the differences between Lee and Lien, who hid himself when the "two-states" policy was first announced.
• Most Popular

  • 1

    First person arrested as Danjiang Bridge opens

  • 2

    TSMC shares stumble on report, but losses minor

  • 3

    Navy needs 12 subs for modern fleet: CSBC head

  • 4

    Snake on a train spooks riders on Taipei MRT line

  • 5

    HIMARS to be deployed to islands