Cablegate: Relocation of National Tainan University Further

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS TAIPEI 004399

SIPDIS

DEPT PASS AIT/WASHINGTON
DEPT FOR EAP/TC, INR/EAP

FROM AIT KAOHSIUNG BRANCH OFFICE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL TW
SUBJECT: Relocation of National Tainan University further
Intensifies Mayoral Election in Tainan

Ref: TAIPEI 3916

1. Taiwan's Education Minister Tu Cheng-sheng on October
23 announced at the site of the National Tainan University's
future campus in Chiku, Tainan County that the university's
relocation project will be started in 2006 and completed in
2014 with NT$5.7 billion from the Executive Yuan (EY).
Minister Tu also disclosed an official letter with President
Chen Shui-bian's comment, which urged the Executive Yuan to
give full support to facilitate relocation of the
university, assuring Tainan county residents that the
university relocation will take place.

2. Tainan Mayor Hsu Tian-tsair, who is running for re-
election, swore publicly that he would resign if the
university was moved out of Tainan City. In response to the
Minister's announcement, KMT Tainan mayoral candidate Chen
Jung-sheng urged Hsu to resign to take political
responsibility as well as to fulfill his own promise, which
was made during an interpellation with City Councilor Chiang
Chang-yuan on September 26. The KMT Candidate further
criticized incumbent DPP Mayor Hsu Tian-tsair as incapable
of securing one of the city's most valuable assets and its
cultural and educational resources (see reftel).

3. Taiwan Solidarity Union mayoral candidate Chien Lin Hui-
chun also criticized Mayor Hsu for failing to keep secure
the metropolitan university. Chien Lin urged Mayor Hsu to
seek support from all Tainan-elected legislators of
different political parties to press the central government
to keep the university in the city.

4. In response to criticism from the opposition, Tainan
Mayor Hsu Tain-tsair said he did not oppose the relocation
project since he regarded it as an expansion of the
university campus. Hsu asserted that he would strive to
preserve all the campus, excluding the dormitory area, and
to best use the facilities of the university by integrating
its educational resources with local industries.

5. The opposition has been watching closely the development
of the university relocation issue. On September 20, KMT
Tainan mayoral candidate Chen Jung-sheng, in conjunction
with KMT and PFP city council caucuses, initiated a
signature drive urging the Ministry of Education to change
its policy of retrieving two thirds of the university
campus's land in the city. Protesting the EY's confirmation
of the policy, on October 27 KMT Legislator Wang Yi-ting
from Tainan City, in conjunction with other KMT legislators
in a legislative session, cut the first phase of the
project's budget. Wang urged the Ministry of Education to
seek alternatives to keep the presence of the university in
Tainan City.

6. Local residents in Chiku Township expressed huge
dissatisfaction over the boycott of the relocation budget by
the Legislative Yuan. Learning that the boycott was
originated by KMT legislators, KMT Tainan County Councilor
Chou Si-hai pointed out that the issue is no longer an issue
between political parties; rather it's an issue between the
city and the county. DPP Tainan County Magistrate Su Huan-
chih responded that he has no clue about the new development
and will not map out solutions until he obtains more
information on the Legislative Yuan resolution.

THIELE

PAAL

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