Vice President Annette Lu (
"Comparing Boeing, which manufactures hardware products but acted weakly by cancelling my visit to their company due to pressure from China, with Microsoft, which develops software, firmly demonstrated its unbending will to keep its promise and realize my visit," Lu said.
"Microsoft, suffering the same pressure from Beijing as Boeing, has proved my consistent belief that soft power is more powerful," Lu said.
After saying "shame on Boeing" on Monday night after the company rejected her scheduled visit, Lu continued to urge people yesterday to re-evaluate projects with Boeing.
On the last day of her two-day stopover in Seattle, Lu met local leaders such as Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels and chief state prosecutor Christine Gregoire. She also attended a financial symposium, which included many transnational corporations, and encouraged them to invest in Taiwan.
Meanwhile, Lu denied reports that she had promised to reconsider the repayment schedule for loans to Paraguay, saying the reports were groundless and the product of irresponsible reporting.
"During my farewell press conference in the Paraguayan capital, Asuncion, [on Saturday], some Paraguayan journalists did ask whether Taiwan's government is likely to extend a helping hand as the new Paraguayan government is unable to repay its debts to Taiwan," Lu said during a transit stop in Seattle after a trip to Panama and Paraguay.
"I stressed that the loans were simply commercial deals between the Paraguay government and Taiwan's two private banks -- the International Commercial Bank of China and Chinatrust Commercial Bank," Lu said. "I'm convinced that the two Taiwan banks will handle the repayment issue properly.
"I believe that all reporters accompanying me to Paraguay can verify my statement," she said.
At Lu's request, the Presidential Office issued a press release yesterday defending her, saying the media reports about Lu's promise were untrue.
"Vice President Lu regrets that such an irresponsible, misleading report was made," the statement said.
On Monday, domestic media claimed that Lu said during a news conference in the Paraguayan capital of Asuncion last Saturday that Taiwan would consider extending the interest-free period for loans to Paraguay and delaying its loan repayment schedule.
The Presidential Office's statement said Lu neither made any comment nor mentioned that the government is considering the loan issue.
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