Ma’s “flexible diplomacy” policy has not gained points for Taiwan but trapped it in a “diplomatic coma,” Tsai said.
DPP caucus whip Lee Chun-yi (李俊毅) said referring to the US secretary of state as “Mrs Clinton” was just as denigrating as Ma referring to himself as “Mr Ma” instead of “President Ma.”
Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) legislators, however, said Ma’s conduct was in line with diplomatic protocol.
KMT Legislator John Chiang (蔣孝嚴), a former foreign minister, said Ma had not been impolite by not using Clinton’s title since the US and Taiwan do not have official relations.
Henry Chen said it was fine for Ma to use “Mrs Clinton” because their meeting took place in a casual setting and the exchanges were part of a private conversation.
Ma and his delegation are scheduled to return to Taipei today after an overnight stopover in Seattle, Washington.
While in Seattle on Tuesday, Ma told American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Chairman Raymond Burghardt that the cross-strait detente had expanded Taiwan’s diplomatic space and had a positive impact on Taiwan-US relations.
Burghardt likened Taipei-Washington ties to the weather, saying it had rained during two previous visits to Seattle, but this time around it was sunny, which symbolized a sound relationship between Taipei and Washington.
Ma also met Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels and spoke with Washington Governor Chris Gregoire and several members of Congress.
RSS