The nation has postponed sending a delegation to the US to explain the "defensive referendum."
Presidential Office Deputy Secretary-General Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) said yesterday there was no need for the delegation, which was set to depart today, to go to the US because relations between the two countries are stable and the visit would not have had much effect.
According to Wu, the head of the delegation, there has been constant and effective communication between the Taiwanese and US governments and many Washington-based think tanks have sent experts to Taiwan.
"I believe that once the referendum questions have been revealed, the US will not take an opposing stand. The US' utmost concern is whether Taiwan is conducting an independence referendum, and we have already assured the US that such a referendum will not take place," Wu said.
Wu said Taiwan hopes the referendum will win the support of the US government.
The delegation had planned to set off this weekend and make stops in New York, Boston, Washington and San Francisco. The purpose was to meet with media, think tanks and possibly US government officials.
Wu dismissed speculation that US officials had refused to receive the group.
According to a Chinese-language newspaper, sources at the Presidential Office said the visit was not to include official meetings with US officials; however, if unofficial meetings were to take place, the officials should not be in high-ranking positions.
Wu said the trip had the potential to touch off a media frenzy.
According to Wu, the US was concerned that if news regarding the delegation became overexposed, American officials would have been put on the spot and faced a barrage of questions by the media.
Wu said the while the US sees the big picture with regard to the referendum, it does not yet know the details.
"The US is concerned with whether any of its responses will meet the expectations of or benefit Taiwan. Furthermore, prior to the presidential election in Taiwan, anything the US government states might be used to the advantage of the pan-blue or pan-green camps," Wu said.
According to Wu, low-key, continual interaction between Taiwan and US think tanks is the best way to communicate.
He warned that a high-profile visit by the delegation would have resulted in political fights.
Although the delegation's trip to the US has been deferred, the country still plans to send delegations to Europe and Asian countries as planned.
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