A meeting of Taiwanese businesspeople working in China organized as a speaking event for KMT presidential candidate Lien Chan (連戰) yesterday took an unexpected turn when former party heavyweight Chen Li-an (陳履安) voiced his consternation at the audience for ignoring his own speech on cross-strait security.
Chen -- who ran as an independent candidate in the 1996 presidential election and served as president of the Control Yuan -- used the occasion to reproach his audience for not paying attention to his previous warnings about the tensions in the Taiwan Strait.
Chen, who was seated prominently at the luncheon attended by many Taiwanese businesspeople operating enterprises in China, spoke before Lien Chan arrived at the scene.
"During this election, many people in Taiwan have persistently put aside the cross-strait issue. The US is even more nervous about this than we are, and our own people don't care about it," Chen said.
"After I voiced my opinions, some people have said I was scaring people. I'm not. I'm waking everybody up," Chen said in an agitated tone.
Chen Li-an quit the KMT to make an unsuccessful run for the presidency four years ago, claiming Lee Teng-hui was leading Taiwan down the path toward eventual war with China.
He announced his endorsement for Lien Chan on Feb. 28, saying the KMT candidate was the only candidate who could ensure peace across the Taiwan Strait and improve relations between the two sides.
"China has the ability to attack Taiwan. They've got missiles and advanced weapons, and a war would not be conventional. They are also capable of hitting [American] aircraft carriers," Chen said. "China will not be lenient toward Taiwan."
Chen, however, struggled to be heard over the loud din of conversation in the jovial atmosphere permeating the meeting.
Visibly annoyed, Chen snapped at the audience.
"I'm speaking here, and everybody's just eating and chatting as usual! This is just typical of Taiwan!" Chen shouted.
Without his admonishments triggering any response, Chen left the meeting shortly after speaking.
Lien himself arrived soon after, praising Taiwanese businessmen and investors in China for their contribution to improving China's economy and the living standard of the Chinese people. He also reiterated his mainland policies.
"You people who do business and invest in China are most concerned with cross-strait relations," he said.
"And I was the first candidate to propose the idea of signing agreements with China to secure Taiwanese businessmen's rights and interests," Lien said.
"Any factor causing instability over the Taiwan Strait should be repressed on March 18," Lien said, referring to his rival, the DPP's Chen Shui-bian (
In a number of recent polls, businesspeople working in China have largely favored independent candidate James Soong (
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