Taipei, Jan. 18 (CNA) Chen Shui-bian, presidential candidate of the opposition Democratic Progressive Party, on Tuesday urged the ruling Kuomintang not to take rash action to create tension in the Taiwan Strait in the run-up to the March 18 presidential election.
With polls showing the KMT ticket of Lien Chan and Vincent Siew trailing behind others, Chen said the KMT might resort to the tactic of intimidating voters in the final stage of its campaign.
Chen pointed out that the Lien-Siew camp could use the tactic to drive home the message that the people should rally behind the government to withstand any outside threat.
Chen therefore urged the ruling party not to take the rash action of straining cross-strait relations so that the public will not be forced to make a decision in a climate of fear and uneasiness.
In contrast, noting that stability is the deepest aspiration of the 22 million people of Taiwan, Chen said the DPP has pursued a "genuine stability," one that will be achieved through safe reforms and a peaceful turnover of political power.
He said the stability will cover the areas of democracy, politics, economy, everyday life, ecology and the Taiwan Strait.
He said that stability in cross-strait relations will be based on sincere negotiation, aggressive cooperation and permanent peace to help solve the cross-strait stalemate.
Chen also said that he is not ruling out the possibility of unveiling his candidate for premier and the lineup of his Cabinet before the presidential election.
Chen said that his choices of Cabinet officials will illustrate to the public his intentions regarding both cross-strait stability and long-term prosperity.
He stressed that with the day of taking over the government drawing near, his responsibility has become greater, and he reaffirmed that he will be a new leader acceptable to Beijing and Washington, adding that he will show both of them that he is a communicative, pragmatic and rational leader.
The presidential hopeful also invited others to propose their candidates for premier. (By Lilian Wu)
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