HEAVYWEIGHT Taiwanese politician Lin Yang-kang denied that he would make use of his newly acquired position of KMT vice-chairman to promote his chances of seeking the Taiwan presidency in 1996.
Mr Lin, together with the three other new KMT vice-chairman, Li Yuan-zu, Hau Pei-tsun and Lien Chan, pledged to work together to help Taiwan President and KMT chairman Lee Teng-hui.
Mr Lin, 66, who is president of the Judicial Yuan, is the only politician deemed to have enough calibre to seek the presidency should Mr Lee keep to his promise of not seeking a second term.
He said yesterday he had already indicated he would ''seriously consider'' campaigning for president since Mr Lee announced his decision not to run in 1996.
''However, this does not mean I have already declared my bid for presidency,'' Mr Lin said.
''The duty of the vice-chairman of the KMT is to take away some of the burden - but not the power - of the party chairman.