PFP Chairman James Soong (
Reacting to Soong's clarification, Presidential Office spokesman James Huang (黃志芳) said Soong has only disclosed "half of the truth" and "should speak more clearly." Soong told a press conference that none of these meetings involved personal or partisan interests.
"President Chen, it is cruel and wasteful of you to spend so much effort on these petty matters, deliberately cheating the public by sleight of hand and giving them the wrong impression," Soong said.
Soong was responding to Chen's allegations that he solicited the president for key government positions during the meetings.
Raising the issue on Tuesday, Chen hinted that he had met with Soong on more occasions than was publicly known. Chen challenged Soong to explain clearly to the public, especially to KMT Chairman Lien Chan (
There was speculation that Chen, by making the remarks, was trying to divide Lien and Soong -- who are allies and may well cooperate in the 2004 presidential election to run against Chen.
According to Soong, there was only one meeting that was not publicized until yesterday, and it took place at the Presidential Office on July 27, 2000, days after the Pachang Creek tragedy in which four workers were washed away by flood water following a delayed rescue effort.
Soong said Chen passed messages to him through friends to arrange a meeting with him after the incident and that he accepted the invitation because he did not want to give the impression he could not open a dialogue with Chen.
During the meting, Soong said, Chen asked for his suggestions on national policies and chatted about national affairs.
Soong said there was no reason for him to inform Lien about the meeting because he had not yet reconciled outstanding differences with Lien.
Lien yesterday showed little interest in the details of the meetings between Chen and Soong.
"It's no big deal for them to meet with each other," Lien said.
Lien would not speculate about Chen's motive in raising the issue now, saying people "should go ask President Chen" about it.
KMT Vice Chairman Wu Poh-hsiung (
"The public is not concerned about this issue. It is the unemployment and economic problems that are the main cause for concern. It is meaningless to focus on this topic," Wu said.
Huang said that the Presidential Office will reveal the rest of the details about their meetings if Soong doesn't.
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