Office of the President Republic of China(Taiwan)

In a press conference at the Presidential Office at 3:30 this afternoon, Secretary-General to the President Chiou I-Jen said that President Chen Shui-bian and Vice President Annette Hsiu-lien Lu were shot at 1:45 p.m. while campaigning near Wenhsien Road and Chinhua Road in Tainan City. The President was wounded in the abdomen just below the navel and the Vice President was hit in the right knee. The injuries are not life-threatening, and both of them remain fully conscious. They were taken to Tainan's Cimei Hospital for treatment.

The President and Vice President called on all citizens to stay calm.

Secretary-General Chiou indicated that the national security mechanism has been activated. A national security mechanism meeting is now being held, and the results will be released as soon as possible. In addition, the other presidential candidate Lien Chan and his running mate James Soong have been notified by the National Security Bureau of the incident. It is the duty of the government and the National Security Bureau's Secret Service Training Center to protect the security of Mr. Lien and Mr. Soong.

Finally, Secretary-General Chiou emphasized that the President and Vice President's wounds are not life-threatening, and that they are both fully conscious. He called on all citizens not to worry and to stay calm.