KMT Chairman Lien Chan (
"Vice President Lu is right. It was a miscalculation. Actually, it involved more than just a miscalculation," Lien told a KMT campaign rally in Taichung County.
"They miscalculated the situation because a few people were making the decision behind closed doors, looking at the sky from the bottom of a well and showing no respect for professionalism," Lien said.
While Lien, a former premier and vice president, has expressed his strong disapproval for the DPP government's handling of the matter on several previous occasions, this was the first time he found himself agreeing with a DPP politician.
During an interview with a local magazine, Lu said that President Chen Shui-bian (
Lu said that the Presidential Office had also miscalculated the negative impact of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the international political climate.
Lien said China has always been rude and irrational toward Taiwan, a fact that Taiwan can never ignore.
Taiwan must have a variety of different tactics and strategies prepared ahead of time when dealing with China and make decisions based on the best interests of the nation, Lien said.
Instead of admitting its mistakes in dealing with the matter, Lien said, Chen has appealed to his anti-China supporters for sympathy, blaming China for "bullying" Taiwan.
"Winning the elections is [Chen's] main priority. The dignity of the nation is never at the forefront," Lien said.
In addition to the APEC issue, Lien yesterday criticized the DPP for the discriminatory tactics being used to crack down on vote buying.
Lien said investigators had closely surveyed and videotaped a fundraising banquet held by KMT lawmaker Liao Fung-te (
Lien questioned why investigators had not surveyed the fund-raising banquet hosted by the DPP's Mainstream Alliance, which took place in a five-star hotel with each participant paying NT$50,000 to attend.
While people joining tours organized by the KMT were searched by police and even taken in for questioning, the DPP transported without incident supporters from around Taiwan in tour buses to visit the Presidential Office, Lien said.
"Is this a democratic country or not? This is making people lose their sense of pride and instilling a sense of fear in everybody," Lien said.
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