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Taiwanese AP backs Beijing's bid
TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) -- One of Taiwan's harshest critics of China has made a rare goodwill gesture to the communist giant, endorsing Beijing's bid to play host to the 2008 Olympics. Vice President Annette Lu frequently criticizes China for being a repressive, undemocratic bully that enjoys threatening this island. China's state-run media have fired back at her, calling Lu a "lunatic" or "scum of the nation." But during a speech Thursday to Harvard University alumni, Lu softened her tone and endorsed China's Olympic bid, which the International Olympic Committee will vote on next week. "Sincerely, we wish and hope that China would have the honor to earn the auspicious Olympic Games in 2008 and we will share with their victory," said Lu, who studied law at Harvard in the 1970s. President Chen Shui-bian has also supported Beijing's bid and has suggested that China and Taiwan could share some of the events. But for now it seems unlikely that the two sides could cooperate in such a way because of long-standing political differences. The two sides split amid civil war in 1949, and China has warned Taiwan that it must eventually reunify or face war. Most Taiwanese oppose rejoining an undemocratic, economically backward China. Beijing is a strong favorite ahead of the International Olympic Committee vote on July 13. Paris and Toronto are also considered to be front-runners, while Istanbul, Turkey and Osaka, Japan, are considered long shots. Many Taiwanese support Beijing's bid because they are ethnic Chinese and feel that winning the 2008 games would bring honor to their race. Others believe that China would be less likely to attack Taiwan if it is preparing for the Olympics. The vice president sounded this note Thursday, reminding China that the "fundamental spirit of the Olympic games is peace."
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