The presidential election will be won by either the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) or the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), former KMT chairman Wu Poh-hsiung (吳伯雄) said yesterday, adding that he saw little possibility of a third outcome.
Wu made the remarks after addressing overseas Taiwanese businesspeople, in Taipei, who support the re-election of President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) in response to reporters seeking comment on People First Party Chairman James Soong’s (宋楚瑜) decision to enter the presidential race.
In addition to Wu and Ma, Premier Wu Den-yih (吳敦義) and Straits Exchange Foundation Chairman Chiang Pin-kung (江丙坤) attended the function at the Grand Hotel.
Wu Poh-hsiung said Ma and his running mate, Wu Den-yih, were two extraordinary leaders whose administration had passed the test of time.
The nation has been moving forward since Ma took office three years ago and has addressed corruption, he said.
Ma has never compromised on issues related to national sovereignty, nor has he done anything to harm the interests of Taiwan, he said, adding that some people had been unfair in accusing the government of leaning toward China, saying it would eventually betray Taiwan.
Having been a KMT member for 50 years, Wu Poh-hsiung said it was impossible for him to abandon the party in difficult times.
He also said he would assist in the presidential campaign whenever necessary.
“We may feel dissatisfied about certain things, but we can put it aside for the sake of the 23 million people who live here,” he said.
Wu Poh-hsiung urged overseas businesspeople to return home to vote next year, saying it is going to be a close election and that every vote counts.
Meanwhile, Ma credited his success to Wu Poh-hsiung, saying the former KMT chairman had been supportive ever since he ran in the Taipei mayoral election 13 years ago.
“I have been in five different elections and he [Wu Poh-hsiung] was always the president of the campaign committee,” Ma said. “He has been with me every step of the way, from encouraging me to run, to helping me run the campaigns and seeing me elected.”
Ma said he decided to run for president because the nation had backed itself into a corner in terms of foreign policy under the DPP’s rule, adding that the DPP administration showed “a lack of discipline.”
Ma said he intended to govern for eight years and vowed to completely transform Taiwan in his second term.
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