In an interview with the Washington Post on Monday, President Chen was reported as declaring he received a mandate on March 20 to press ahead with an aggressive agenda to develop Taiwan as an independent, sovereign country despite the risk of war with China.

“By saying that,” Su pointed out, “Chen is pushing Taiwan to the verge of danger (of war).”

He said the main thrust of the interview is: “Unless the United States must stand sentry over waters off Taiwan 24 hours a day, the people of Taiwan must be ‘prepared’ (for war.)”

Su did not say for what the people must be “prepared,” albeit he apparently meant “for war with China.”

Another point Chen made in the interview, Su added, is that he is doing what he can for Taiwan independence, although he did not say so in so many words.

The National Policy Foundation is a think tank of the Kuomintang.

Its ally, the People First Party (PFP), told a press conference Chen said one thing to the people of Taiwan and another thing to the Washington Post.

“If he wants to write a new constitution or have independence, he should have said so clearly at a much earlier date,” said Hsieh Chang-chieh, PFP parliamentary whip.

Diane Lee, a PFP lawmaker, said what President Chen told the Washington Post “saddened” all the people of Taiwan.

“How could he insult the people by telling the international media the presidential election was a choice of love and hatred?” Lee asked.

Chen told the Washington Post: “And I think this election is a choice between love and hatred.

“On Feb. 28, the hand-in-hand rally demonstrated that our love for this land and also for other people. The Feb. 28 hand-in-hand rally aimed to unite Taiwan and the people of Taiwan. Quite on the contrary, the March 13 rally staged by the pan-blue alliance was a rally of hatred aimed at dividing Taiwan and dividing the people of Taiwan.

“They (pan-blue supporters) have created conflict and generated much anger and that’s why at this election they have become the minority.”

“In fact,” Lee pointed out, “it’s the president who was dividing Taiwan and the people of Taiwan.”

The pan-blue candidates, Lien Chan of the Kuomintang and James Soong of the PFP narrowly lost the election. They both have not conceded defeat and are challenging President Chen’s reelection.