BBC is now reporting this in their news flash.
Taiwan’s president shot at rally - BBC article of the assassination attempt.
In pictures: Taiwan shooting - Picture #4 reveals the 11cm gash across Mr Chen’s stomach caused by the bullet.
Disclaimer: What I’m about to say isn’t the most tactful thing ever, so let me preface it by stating that I’m glad they’re both okay.
But why were the President and VP in the same vehicle? The American president and VP are never allowed to be within range of the same bullet! Even before JFK was assassinated; remember Johnson was in a different car? They never fly together, either! Taiwan, and any other country who does the same thing, please don’t take such risks!
Do they have a suspect yet?
I may be nuts, but my primary suspect is the CCP.
what, and galvanise public support behind the incumbents shortly bbefore public elections?
Frankly, I think the independence referendum is a really stupid idea. Taiwan currently enjoys a de facto sort of independence, and this attempt to formalize it does nothing except seriously piss off Beijing.
So yeah, I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if the CCP were behind it if they figured the intimidation value exceeded any “galvinisation of support.”
Huh? I’m pretty sure I’ve seen pictures of these guys together.
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/images/environment/july-dec00/gore_pres.jpg
http://fhss.byu.edu/POLSCI/DAVISR/Gore%20and%20Clinton.jpg
http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1996/analysis/time/9609/02/clinton.gore.walking.jpg
http://www.september11news.com/Sept11CheneyBushOpCtrWhHouse.jpg
http://www.cnn.com/interactive/allpolitics/0101/gallery.inauguration/5.bush.cheney.jpg
http://www.cnn.com/interactive/allpolitics/0102/bush.gallery/6.bush.cheney.hastert.jpg
http://www.authentichistory.com/images/attackonamerica/photographs/20010914-bush-powell-cheney.jpg
I haven’t heard anyone in taiwan trying to blame the CCP. There are of course the KMT blaming the DPP, and the DPP blaming the KMT.
If it turns out that the CCP tried to assassinate the President of Taiwan, doncha think it just might help the cause of Taiwan independance rather than hurt it?
Sure. I should have made it clear that I was just talking out of my butt.
However, Beijing has been engaging in some pretty serious saber-rattling over the independence issue for months now, from moving troops and missle batteries around to “coincidentally” scheduling joint naval excercises with the French. This shooting was most likely the work of some lone wacko, but the behavior of the mainland over the referendum hasn’t been exactly rational.