Rice's comments, in response to a question by an aide to Senator Sam Brownback, marks the first time Rice has mentioned Taiwan in connection with international efforts to deal with North Korea since two congressmen urged her, in a letter just before her Asian trip, to involve Taiwan in the six-party talks.
In a letter on the eve of her five-day journey to Tokyo, Seoul, Beijing and Moscow, congressmen Tom Tancredo and Dana Rohrabacher, two of Taiwan's staunchest allies in Congress, urged Rice to "consider a role for Taiwan" in the Korea talks, "as the outcome of those negotiations is just as critical to Taiwan as it is for the other six nations who are currently participating."
They also urged Rice to stop in Taipei for talks with President Chen Shui-bian (
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