Expressing gratitude to former KMT luminary Chen Li-an (
"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 (
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 (
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 (
"`One China' does not equal `state-to-state,'" Chen said.
Independent candidate James Soong (
Huang Yi-chiao (
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 (
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.
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