Former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) yesterday said at a Taipei press event that Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) is the only politician capable of influencing the pro-localization forces in the Legislative Yuan.
The 92-year-old president made two appearances at the Sheraton Grande Taipei Hotel: a meeting with Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) and a campaign event announcing an alliance between the Radical Flank and Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU).
In response to a question about Wang’s possible nomination as a legislator-at-large by the KMT in the Jan. 16 elections, Lee said: “Whether Wang Jin-pyng will again assume the post of Legislative Speaker is up to the legislators.”
Photo: Wang Yi-song, Taipei Times
“However, I believe that the only person in the Legislative Yuan capable of influencing pro-localization forces is [Wang] alone and no one else,” he added.
“The task facing the Legislative Yuan in the immediate future is to manage [Taiwanese] local interests and the economic issues that concern the people,” he added.
“It is very important that the Legislative Yuan has good, pro-localization people working for it, and as the global situation is shifting rapidly, the survival of a small nation like Taiwan depends on the strength of its leaders,” Lee said.
Asked about the possibility of military conflict between the US and China over South China Sea, Lee said: “[The US and China] alone decide if they are to fight, but it remains true that the situation in South China Sea is very dangerous, because the area commands all [regional] north-south communications.”
“It makes sense that the US military would observe the area with submarines, destroyers and aircraft,” Lee added.
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