President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) recent stopovers in New York and Houston en route to visit Taiwan's diplomatic allies in Latin America represented not only a major breakthrough for the relationship between Taipei and Washington, but also a new model for Taiwan's political leaders to break the country's international isolation.
Chen's second state visit, labeled a trip for "cooperating to share prosperity and strengthen friendship with Taiwan's allies," was a reflection of the government's attempt to display its year-long efforts to consolidate its foreign partnerships, as well as to display Taipei's improved relationship with the US.
Chen was grounded in his hotel and forbidden to receive any guests from the US government and Congress during his stopover in Los Angeles last year. The treatment he received this year was indeed a sign of a huge improvement in the US' policy toward receiving Taiwan's popularly elected leader and a demonstration of respect for the country's democratic achievements.
In addition to the existing principles of "comfort, safety and convenience," a new element of "dignity" has been included in the new policy.
During his stay in New York, Chen met with 22 members of the US Congress and he had telephone conversations with several heavyweight senators. Chen could have met with more senators if his stay had not coincided with intense voting on tax bills on Capitol Hill.
New York welcome
Chen was also received informally by New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and enjoyed both public and official attention when he visited the New York Stock Exchange and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
In Houston, Congressman Tom DeLay invited Chen to a steak house and a major league baseball game. The courteous reception and room for public activity was unprecedented since the severance of diplomatic relations between the US and Taiwan, and shows a major shift has appeared in the policy of Washington toward a democratic Taiwan.
In his homecoming statement, Chen called for the institutionalization of high-level official exchanges between Taipei and Washington.
The treatment Chen received during the recent two stopovers can be described as "presiden-tial." Most importantly, the fine reception during his stopovers can be taken as a model for future trips by Taiwan's presidents and high-level government officials as well.
Furthermore, the range of activities undertaken by Chen and the meetings with members of Congress mark a departure from the practice of the previous US administration, which imposed tight restrictions on what visiting Taiwan leaders could and could not do.
Although Chen's successful stopovers do not guarantee that Taiwan-US relations will always be in Taipei's favor, Taiwanese officials can still ask for stopovers in foreign countries without diplomatic ties with Taiwan by applying the "New York model" or the "Houston model."
From this perspective, Chen's stopovers signify a new phase in Taiwan's diplomatic activities.
The progress was made without any surprises. After Chen's humiliating treatment in Los Angeles last August, some US Congressmen co-sponsored a joint resolution to ask the State Department to review current US policy toward Taiwan. The resolution aims to reduce restrictions on high-level visits to the US by Taiwanese officials, urging members of Congress to communicate directly with elected and appointed Taiwanese officials.
Furthermore, the change in government from the Clinton administration to the Bush administration has ushered in changes. As his predecessor was accused of tilting toward Beijing and overlooking Taiwan's interest during his two terms in office, the Bush government, which most observers have described as more friendly toward Taipei, seized the opportunity to display its friendship and respect to Taiwan's leader in the treatment that was offered to Chen.
Nevertheless, the about-face in US policy toward Taiwan's leaders was based largely on Chen's efforts to pursue a pragmatic and conciliatory policy toward China.
Ever since he entered office, Chen has offered an olive branch to Beijing and continuously expressed sincerity and willingness to engage in bilateral talks.
Chen's prudent handling of the mid-air collision between a US surveillance plane and a Chinese fighter and the US decision to sell arms to Taiwan were believed to be key to Washington's relaxation of its control on Chen's transit in the US.
low-key approach
Chen's low-key approach to the transit arrangement made by the US State Department and his reiteration that "Taiwan will not take advantage of the recent ups and downs of Sino-US relations" also displayed Taipei's self-restraint, greatly lowering cross-strait tension.
After Taiwan's first transfer of power, the country now ranks as a full-fledged democracy. It follows, therefore, that Taiwan's democratically elected leaders deserve fair treatment from other nations, even in the face of China's pressure.
If the leaders of authoritarian China receive official treatment in the US while the leaders of democratic Taiwan are treated as potential troublemakers, how could the American people justly claim the values of a true democracy?
In addition, unlike officials from the executive branch of the US government, members of Congress have long had the freedom to meet with Taiwan's leaders.
Meetings with Taiwanese leaders often provide vital opportunities to discuss issues of mutual concern that directly affect US interests. There is no reason for the US government to prohibit its lawmakers from meeting with Chen.
While it is essential for leaders in both Taipei and Washington to improve communication and mutual trust, and refrain from contributing to an undesirable outcomes, it is also important for Taiwan to earn more respect and fair treatment from the US.
Hopefully this is just the beginning of more normal relations between Taipei and Washington.
Liu Kuan-teh is a Taipei-based political commentator.
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