The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) yesterday said it is “puzzled by and regrets” former vice president Lien Chan’s (連戰) attendance at China’s massive military parade to mark Japan’s defeat in World War II.
The People First Party (PFP), on the other hand, said that its secretary-general, Chin Ching-sheng (秦金生), who is in Beijing for the commemorations, did not attend the parade — a claim that another attendee challenged.
Despite strong denunciations by many politicians across party lines, Lien attended the Chinese military show of force, along with about 300 other representatives from Taiwan, reports said.
Photo: CNA
KMT spokesperson Yang Wei-chung (楊偉中) reiterated that the war against Japan was led by the Republic of China (ROC) government and that the KMT is “unwavering in upholding democratic values” and the “historical truth about the war.”
The KMT “deeply regrets and is much puzzled by former [KMT] chairman Lien’s attendance at [China’s] military parade, on the same day as the Armed Forces Day of the ROC,” Yang said.
Responding to calls from KMT members — such as Taipei City Councilor Lee Hsin (李新) — for the party to take disciplinary action against Lien, Yang said there are differing opinions within the party about members attending the parade.
Photo: Yen Hung-chun, Taipei Times
“These opinions will be discussed and [the cases involving those members will] be handled in accordance with party mechanisms,” he added.
PFP Deputy Secretary-General Liu Wen-hsiung (劉文雄) said that Chin did not attend the parade.
However, the Chinese-language Apple Daily, citing an anonymous attendee in Beijing, said that Chin had been on the Tiananmen Gate rostrum during the parade.
The source alleged that Chin had climbed up the rostrum with other members of the group, but later excused himself and went to a staff room in the back, saying he did not feel well.
PFP spokesperson Clarence Wu (吳崑玉) denied the allegations, saying Chin “was not on the rostrum” of the Tiananmen Gate.
The Apple Daily report said that a PFP member said Chin had “technically avoided” viewing the military parade, as Chin told PFP headquarters that the invited group had to “act as a whole,” but he left the seat arranged by the Chinese government on a pretext, which should be counted as “absence.”
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Changhua chapter director Chen Chin-ting (陳進丁) filed a lawsuit at the Changhua District Prosecutors’ Office against Lien, accusing him of “civil disturbance” and “treason.”
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