GO DAIWAN LANG!!!! And I'm quoted. Woo hoo!
Guess the fortune teller was right. (read previous post) AHAHAHAHA.

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Saturday, March 20, 2004
O.C. Taiwanese affected by attack
The assassination attempt on the island's president raises concern here.

By PATRICK VUONG
The Orange County Register


Some voters casting ballots today in the presidential election in Taiwan actually call Orange County home.

Despite living eight time zones away from the island, these Taiwanese Americans maintain dual citizenship and have flown back to the island to vote in the election, which was marred by an assassination attempt on the president and vice president Friday.

"My heart and love is in Taiwan right now," said Sarah Lobin, a Huntington Beach real estate agent.

The 51-year-old Taiwanese native did not return to Taiwan but said many of her clients and friends stay politically active in the country. Lobin hopes President Chen Shui-bian and Vice President Annette Lu will be re-elected to stand up against China, which sees Taiwan as one of its territories.

Chen has been vocal about forging a separate identity for Taiwan despite China's threats of attack if the island seeks independence.

"We're not afraid of China. We're very strong," Lobin said.

The shootings might help Chen's re-election, said Dorothy J. Solinger, a political science professor at the University of California, Irvine.

"The assassination attempt will cause people to sympathize with him, especially among people who hadn't decided to vote yet or who weren't planning to vote for him," Solinger said. "It'll give a sense of empowerment to Chen because he feels he's fighting for a just cause."

Chen's political stance has attracted a following among Orange County's roughly 10,000 Taiwanese Americans, some of whom have been influential in his campaigns.

Fountain Valley aerospace engineer Ching Kuo, who is in Taiwan now, led a contingent of 16 U.S. businessmen to help Chen's first campaign in 2000. That same year, Lu raised $1.2 million during a Southern California visit.

Jennifer Kuo, a member of the nonprofit Taiwanese American Citizens League, said her relatives and friends have returned to their homeland to vote.

"This is a country that does see the value in voting," said Kuo, 26, of Costa Mesa. "I hope this (assassination attempt) doesn't intimidate anyone."

Irvine resident Ching F. Tsai agreed, saying he hopes the attack reinforces democracy in Taiwan.

"We hope people can learn a lesson and condemn this kind of violence," said Tsai, 55. "People should use the ballot instead of bullets."


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CONTACT US: (714) 445-6685 or pvuong@ocregister.com