Two senior Taiwanese government officials will be in Washington next week to discuss ways to improve military relations between Taiwan and the US, Taiwan's de facto ambassador to the US said Wednesday.
The officials, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Michael Kau (
He would not say what US officials Tsai and Kau might see, but said that the main purpose of their trip would be to attend a seminar on so-called "confidence-building measures" at the Center for Strategic and International Relations.
Confidence-building measures refer to ways to cooperate militarily to increase understanding and interoperability between the two sides.
Lee told the Taipei Times that he is "not sure yet" whether Kau and Tsai will meet with US officials, but said "if the opportunity is there, they will be more than happy to meet with them."
He would not say what message the two Taiwan officials would bring with them to Washington.
Lee confirmed that President Chen Shui-bian (
He would not comment on reports that DPP officials are seeking a stop in Philadelphia in connection with a major Taiwan donation to the new home for the Liberty Bell, which is being moved from Independence Hall -- famous for its role as a meeting place for the principals of the American Revolution.
One of the problems both sides are having in arranging the visit is that Chinese President Hu Jintao (胡錦濤) is planning to visit Washington also in September, raising the visibility of a Chen visit that month.
In other matters during the wide-ranging press conference, Lee said that communications with Bush administration officials have improved since he arrived last July and he has been given higher access to US officials in recent months.
This is despite the fact that virtually all of the pro-Taiwan officials of the first Bush administration have resigned their government posts, leaving only one or two still in their jobs. Most notable among them is Richard Lawless, the deputy assistant secretary of defense.
Lee refused to be drawn into the question of who might become the next Washington-based chairman of the American Institute in Taiwan. He would not discuss speculation that the job might go to Rupert Hammond-Chambers, the current president of the US-Taiwan Business Council, who is said to be on the short list of finalists.
"I have no idea," Lee told the Taipei Times. "I don't want to confirm this."
On Taiwan's fishing dispute with Japan, Lee said that in his talks with US officials, they did not offer an opinion on the issue.
"They asked me about it," he said. "Basically, they wanted to make some clarifications. They asked a lot of details and facts," he said.
"But they didn't make further comments," on the issue in their talks with him, he said.
Also see story:
RSS