TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) -- Joking about Chinese state media reports that called her "the scum" of the country, Taiwan's next vice president said Thursday she was flattered China felt it had to use so many resources just to insult her.
Annette Lu, an outspoken feminist, recently became the target of China's state-run press, which accused her of trying to whip up anti-China sentiment in Taiwan and called her insane and evil.China seeks to reunify Taiwan with the mainland and end more than 50 years of separation caused by a civil war. Anyone suspected of opposing reunification is labeled an enemy.
The People's Daily, the ruling Communist Party's newspaper, said Saturday that Lu "has become the scum of the Chinese nation."
Speaking at a youth seminar Thursday, a smiling Lu said, "The ugliest language in the world has been heaped on me. I'm not angry. Such a big country has to use all its resources to insult Annette Lu. Isn't that an honor?"
Lu urged President Clinton to help Taiwanese President-elect Chen Shui-bian set up talks with Chinese President Jiang Zemin.
"Mr. Clinton, write a letter and invite Chen Shui-bian and Jiang Zemin to the White House for a meeting," Lu said to loud applause.
Before Chen won the March 18 election, the former Taipei mayor was the target of China's vitriol. Beijing has said since then it would quietly monitor Chen's words and actions.
Both Lu and Chen belong to the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party. They have softened their position, saying Taiwanese should only vote on the island's independence if China attacks.
In Beijing on Thursday, U.S. Ambassador Joseph Prueher urged China to show a "problem-solving" attitude toward Taiwan. The most important goal was dialogue, he said.
"It's a time for rhetoric to be very measured and constructive," Prueher said. "It's a time to proceed very cautiously and thoughtfully and a time for creative solutions."
Chen has offered to meet with Chinese leaders but rejected Beijing's demand to publicly endorse its "one China" principle that Taiwan is a Chinese province that must be reunited with the mainland.