"So there are things that Beijing could be doing to ease the tensions as well, and I'm sure the president will be talking to President Hu about that," Wilder said.
In Taipei, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday issued a statement in response to Wilder's remarks.
"Taiwan's independent sovereignty is unquestionable. Such a fact would not be changed because of foreign officials' comments," the statement said. "Taiwan and the US currently do not have an official diplomatic relations, but it would not affect the fact that Republic of China [Taiwan] is an independent sovereignty."
When approached for comment yesterday, DPP presidential candidate Frank Hsieh (
Taiwan, having its own judiciary, military, legislature and budget, and where voters elect their own president, is definitely a country, he said.
DPP Legislator Hsu Kuo-yung (
"We have the four elements -- a people, a territory, sovereignty and the ability to interact with other countries, therefore we are a country. As for recognition, it is just a principle upon which diplomatic relationships can be established," Hsu said.
Hsu said the US denial of Taiwan's statehood was irrelevant given that the US does not have diplomatic ties with the nation.
KMT Legislator Kuo Su-chun (
"It was the DPP's UN referendum plan that provoked the strong reaction from the US which vented its anger on the name `ROC,'" Kuo said.
Kuo said that what Wilder had said would not stop the KMT from pushing for the country's "return" to the UN, even though the US had denied Taiwan's statehood.
"The KMT will make the move at the right time in a practical and acceptable way," she said.
Kuo called on the DPP to back off from its UN proposal and unite with the KMT to make Taiwan visible and audible in the international community.
Additional reporting by Shih Hsiu-chuan & CNA
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