Although the DPP has considered the promotion of party politics abroad a major task since President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) became its chairman, an official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday denied media reports which stated Chen will soon make any overseas trips.
Officials also dismissed reports which indicated Chen is seeking to visit South Korea to attend an international conference in October.
A Chinese-language newspaper yesterday reported that Chen is going to visit Palau, a Pacific island state, by the end of this month, and will continue his journey to other Southeast Asian countries.
In private, an insider has also revealed to the Taipei Times that the government was seeking possibilities to send Chen to visit several Southeast Asian countries by the end of this month.
"The media is sometimes full of imagination. I can't comment on the questions with regard to speculation," said Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Michael Kau (高英茂).
Rumors are rife that Chen will be making an overseas trip soon, following Vice President Annette Lu's (
Lu was denied entry to Jakarta due to Chinese pressure after the plane arrived in Jakarta. The plane then made a detour to the Indonesian resort island of Bali.
Besides plans to visit Palau and Southeast Asian countries, reports also said Chen is attempting to overcome barriers to participate in a transatlantic dialogue meeting attended by members of the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD) and the Democrats and European Liberal Democrats and Reformers in October in Seoul.
The DPP was invited to partake in the conference as it is one of the eight member parties of CALD.
Denying the media reports, however, a source from the Presidential Office conceded that to expand the country's international relationships has been a longstanding goal of the government, and it is even more so after Chen took the reins of the DPP last month.
"We have been putting sustained effort into this area and the president will take immediate actions whenever there are chances," the source added.
Echoing the official's line, the director of the DPP's international affairs department, Hsiao Bi-khim (
Held in Seoul and to be presided over by South Korean President Kim Dae-jung, the meeting is scheduled to focus on issues concerning corruption fighting and government transparency.
Hsiao said given that the conference is a dialogue among congressmen, the South Korean government is still deciding on the level of politicians it should invite, and neither has the DPP contacted the host country on the issue of the possible participants.
Regardless of Chen's willingness, if any, to visit South Korea, another Presidential Office official said that it is unlikely Chen would be able to visit South Korea, as Seoul does not recognize Taiwan.
The official said although Kim Dae-jung has maintained amicable relations with the DPP, he has avoided cultivating ties with Taiwan for fear of incensing Beijing. South Korea switched diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to Beijing in 1992.
In May, the South Korean government declined to grant first lady Wu Shu-chen (
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