Near misses in Taiwan

March 19, 2004 4:51 AM

President and Vice President of Taiwan survive assasination attempt.
The wounds were minor, and they are now both out of hospital.
posted by tomcosgrave (16 comments total)

This was the second worst thing to wake up to on the radio (November 12, 2001 being the worst to date...)
posted by Busithoth at 5:37 AM on March 19, 2004

Mainland China behind it?
posted by Blue Stone at 5:41 AM on March 19, 2004

It's good to hear they're ok...and that the election is still going forward.
posted by amberglow at 5:44 AM on March 19, 2004

Does Taiwan have any troops in Iraq?
posted by PenDevil at 5:46 AM on March 19, 2004

Mainland China behind it?
What would the PRC possibly stand to gain from killing Chen?
This will likely stir up nationalistic sentiment in Taiwan on the eve of an election that, until this incident, was too close to call.
But while we're engaging in wild speculation, a single bullet to the stomach doesn't seem like much of an assassination attempt, does it?
posted by Treeline at 6:12 AM on March 19, 2004

Maybe Osama Bin Laden is in Taiwan and is a Chinese agent?
posted by Eekacat at 6:13 AM on March 19, 2004

a single bullet to the stomach doesn't seem like much of an assassination attempt, does it?

Just goes to show you how hard it is for a single shooter to get a good shot at a motorcade. </still not convinced>
posted by jpoulos at 7:03 AM on March 19, 2004

China has shown itself to be little adept at not stirring up nationalist sentiment in Taiwan in the past. They're not exactly known for their diplomatic skill in this area.

chastises self for idle speculation nontheless.
posted by Blue Stone at 7:05 AM on March 19, 2004

But while we're engaging in wild speculation, a single bullet to the stomach doesn't seem like much of an assassination attempt, does it?
What are you looking for, a hit to the head? Maybe it shows how difficult it is trying an assassination in a large public gathering.

After this last week, the political climate in Asia is brewing.
posted by thomcatspike at 7:06 AM on March 19, 2004

Yahoo has a great photo of the presidential abdomen with bullet wound.
posted by Nelson at 8:12 AM on March 19, 2004

This is probably going to win the election for them, though. Perfect timing, and no one can suspect any wrongdoing without being attacked.
posted by Poagao at 9:09 AM on March 19, 2004

I don't have a record of being a conspiracy theorist, but any would be assassin worth their salt would have done the job correctly. It just looks so staged!
posted by h00dini at 10:32 PM on March 19, 2004

...and, of course, they won.
posted by Poagao at 6:21 AM on March 20, 2004

well, it could've just been meant to scare them into changing policies or withdrawing from the election.
posted by amberglow at 7:59 AM on March 20, 2004

Every month that goes by now, Tim Robbins looks more and more prescient.
posted by soyjoy at 9:16 PM on March 20, 2004

Now the opposition who lost is implying that Chen staged the whole assassination attempt to win the election. As well, one of the reasons they are demanding a recount is that Chen being shot caused a wave of sympathy votes. Of course he gains no sympathy from them. What a bunch of imbeciles. Mature leaders these people are not.
posted by cmacleod at 3:34 PM on March 21, 2004