The_shooting Taiwan_presidential_election,_2004

on march 19, 2004, last day of election campaign, president chen shui-bian , vice-president annette lu both shot while campaigning in tainan. traveling in open convertible jeep in presidential motorcade. 1 bullet struck chen s stomach , later found in clothes. resulted in flesh wound 8 cm long , 2 cm deep (four inches long, inch wide, , inch deep). bullet grazed lu s knee , found in jeep. @ first both believed had been hit firecrackers, commonly used in taiwanese political activities; first sign of more serious when chen noticed bleeding stomach, , there bullet hole in window.

their injuries not life-threatening, , both chen , lu released chi-mei hospital on same day without losing consciousness or having surgery. nevertheless, attack provoked shock , unease on taiwan, political violence of kind unknown in recent times.

chen released video in urged calm , indicated neither health nor security of taiwan under threat. within hours, police announced crime not politically motivated, , mainland china not involved. on internet chat rooms , talk radio, pan-blue supporters theorized incident faked in order chen gain sympathy votes. these speculations were, however, considered highly offensive pan-green supporters, , not condoned pan-blue leadership until after chen won election.

both chen , lien s election campaigns suspended, next day s election not postponed, taiwanese law allows suspension of election upon death of candidate. lien chan , wang jyng-ping tried visit chen on night of incident, unable see president because resting. chen shui-bian appeared publicly next day when voted.