Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) yesterday again turned down Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) prospective presidential candidate and Deputy Legislative Speaker Hung Hsiu-chu’s (洪秀柱) invitation to direct her campaign after Hung suggested in an interview the day before that Wang’s participation would help put an end to gossip.
“I have been very clear on the reasons why I cannot accept the position of campaign director. I hope [Hung] would not put me in a difficult position. Putting me in a difficult position is tantamount to putting the legislature in a difficult position,” Wang said.
Wang had declined an offer last month, saying his neutrality and tight schedule precluded him from taking the job. He emphasized that, with the next legislative plenary session starting in September, he would have to deal with issues concerning draft legislation and question-and-answer sessions at the legislature.
Photo: Liao Chen-huei, Taipei Times
“What would happen to the legislature if [the deputy legislative speaker] runs for president and [the legislative speaker] exerts all his efforts on campaign work?” Wang said.
Asked about rumored efforts by some KMT members to obstruct Hung’s nomination with a signature drive, Wang said it is action being taken by individual party members and he would “try [his] best to dissuade them.”
Wang confirmed that he would attend the KMT’s national party congress scheduled for Sunday, when Hung is expected to be officially nominated as the party’s presidential candidate.
Hung later yesterday said that she would continue to ask for Wang’s help.
While she understands and respects Wang’s decision, it has already been demonstrated in Pingtung and Kaohsiung, where she visited in the past few days, that Wang’s help would be required, she said.
In an interview on Tuesday, Hung said Wang told her that “since he would definitely support the party’s legislative campaign, the presidential one is certain to be taken care of as well.”
“It is not possible for Wang to be absent from campaign activities for the party’s legislative candidates, but I would still hope that he could take a title [in the campaign team] to show that we are a team,” Hung said.
Hung said that she had talked to Wang about the importance of him having a role in her team, otherwise “people on the outside” would get the wrong idea about their relationship.
“I will ask KMT Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫) [to persuade Wang] with me,” she said.
Separately yesterday, Hung told representatives of women’s groups in Kaohsiung that Taiwan must not fear a rising China, but should learn to make use of it, like a boat being lifted by a rising tide.
Amid China’s rise, she said, there has been opposition to stronger ties with China every step of the way, from opposing direct transportation links and free-trade agreements for both goods and services to fighting Taiwan’s bid to join the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.
The rise of China is a reality that Taiwan should not be afraid of, Hung said, adding that it should instead adopt a strategy that makes use of China’s rise.
Additional reporting by CNA
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