Asserting that he is the only candidate capable of making Taiwan a "normal country," Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate Frank Hsieh (
Hsieh was speaking at a gala fundraiser for Taiwanese-Americans after arriving in Washington for a four-day visit to explain his policies and positions on key US-Taiwan issues to US officials.
Some 1,000 people from around the country attended the dinner, paying up to US$100 for a seat.
PHOTO: CNA
Hsieh's 45-minute speech was warmly received by the audience. Using trenchant wit when talking about Ma and China, he insisted that the DPP "has to win" next year for the future of democracy and security in Taiwan.
"Taiwan is in control of its destiny," he said. "We want to control our own lives and [the direction of our] democracy."
Hsieh accused Ma of wanting to "go backward" by urging reconciliation with China.
Hsieh said that if Ma were to be elected president, the impact would be felt in Taiwan for "generations to come."
Hsieh's arrival in Washington's Union Station by train from New York City was marked by an ugly scuffle between two news cameramen, one of whom was handcuffed and detained briefly by police.
The incident occurred when cameramen were jostling to position themselves as Hsieh alighted from the train and headed for a limousine.
In the scramble, a cameraman from Hong Kong's Phoenix TV knocked over a camera from the Voice of America (VOA) accompanying former ETTV reporter Daphne Fan.
While both men were described as aggressive and unpleasant by eyewitnesses, it was not clear whether the violence was deliberate or not.
As tempers rose, the VOA cameraman angrily demanded that Phoenix pay for the camera, whereupon police intervened. The VOA cameramen was handcuffed and briefly detained. He was released after the Phoenix cameraman was ordered to leave the scene.
No charges were issued.
Hsieh was scheduled to address reporters at the National Press Club yesterday and will be feted at a congressional reception in the Capitol tomorrow.
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