Media and political observers' obsession over who will be President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) successor for the 2008 presidential election thrust Kaohsiung Mayor Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) into the media spotlight when he was invited by the president to join his entourage in his latest diplomatic trip, which concluded last Sunday.
Although Hsieh remained low-key, characterizing the tour as "a learning trip," observers were quick to suggest his inclusion puts him head and shoulders above the Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) "big four" potential presidential candidates in 2008.
The "big four," as they are dubbed by local media, refers to DPP heavyweights Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮), Premier Yu Shyi-kun, Secretary-General of the Presidential Office Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) and Hsieh.
While visiting the nation's allies in Central America, reporters on the trip with Chen and his entourage witnessed Hsieh's popularity among Taiwanese expatriates in Panama and Belize.
Hsieh was seen surrounded by Taiwanese expatriates for group photos at banquets in honor of Chen, and was noted for his calm manner in exchanges with fellow Taiwanese and the ease with which he dealt with reporters when asked about his opinion of Taiwan's diplomatic situation.
Born in Taipei in 1946, Hsieh started his political career as a Taipei City councilor in the early 1980s. He has since shunned climbing the political ladder, serving on the DPP's central standing committee, before doing a stint as a legislator and then being elected to the DPP chairmanship from 2000 to 2002. Hsieh was the running mate of Peng Ming-min (彭明敏) in Taiwan's first direct presidential election in 1996 in which the DPP was defeated by a large margin by the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) ticket of Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) and Lien Chan (連戰).
Noting Hsieh's rich political profile, DPP legislative caucus whip Tsai Huang-liang (蔡煌瑯) said Hsieh's participation in Chen's diplomatic tour was an opportunity for the Kaohsiung mayor to broaden his scope regarding international affairs.
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