Disagreement over a government decision to allow Taiwanese companies to invest in eight-inch wafer plants in China has not soured relations between President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) and former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝), a Presidential Office official said yesterday.
"Chen and Lee admire each other and great minds think alike when it comes to making policies," Secretary General to the President Chen Shih-meng (
He said the relationship between the two was solid and that they shared a strong mutual trust that could not be undermined by any opposition conspiracy.
"No rumor could influence their relationship," Chen Shih-meng said.
He made the comments in response to reporters' questions at a tea party at the Presidential Office yesterday.
When specifically asked about rumors of a rift between Chen and Lee over the policy to allow high-tech investments in China, Chen Shih-meng said: "I have heard no complaints from the president about Mr. Lee or vice versa."
He said rumors designed to create division between Chen and Lee were frequently spread in political circles.
"Recently some opposition politicians have asked whether President Chen has finally expressed his displeasure to Lee about Lee's opposition to the Cabinet's policy on eight-inch wafer plants," Chen Shih-meng said.
"I believe that these [rumors] are not true and have no influence on the friendship between Chen and Lee."
Chen Shih-meng also said though the Cabinet has already said it will allow Taiwanese companies to set up eight-inch wafer plants in China, those companies that had already invested in China before the ban was lifted would be punished.
"I think that the government will set up proper procedures to allow those companies to rectify their mistakes," he said. "If they still disobey the government's regulations, they will be punished severely."
Chen Shih-meng also suggested that the president might agree to becoming DPP chairman, but that he would draw a distinct line between the affairs of the party and government.
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