The American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) on Friday released the names of delegation members who are to represent the US at president-elect Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) inauguration in Taipei on May 20.
Former US trade representative Ron Kirk is to lead the delegation and is to be accompanied by former US deputy secretary of state John Negroponte, AIT Chairman Raymond Burghardt, AIT Director Kin Moy and Stimson Center distinguished fellow Alan Romberg.
Kirk’s name as leader of the delegation was leaked to the media a few days ago.
Photo: AP
Some Taiwanese Americans were disappointed with the list of names.
They said this would have been a perfect opportunity for US President Barack Obama to boost relations with the nation by sending higher-ranking officials.
Former Pentagon official and China expert Joseph Bosco last month published an article in The Diplomat saying that Obama should end the longstanding policy of “excessive” restraint in the face of Chinese provocation by sending US Vice President Joe Biden to Tsai’s inauguration.
He said that sending Biden to Taipei would send a “useful message” to Beijing.
There had also been speculation within the Taiwanese American community that a senior senator might attend the inauguration as a signal of strong US support for Taiwan.
An official with one leading Taiwanese American group told the Taipei Times that members were “disappointed” with the delegation as announced by the AIT in Washington.
“Sending a big name would show Beijing and Taiwan’s other neighbors that the US highly values Taiwan’s democracy,” the official said. “We certainly don’t want to show disrespect to Ron Kirk, but we were hoping for someone with political clout.”
Kirk served as US trade representative from March 2009 to March 2013. He served as mayor of Dallas, Texas, from 1995 to 2002 and as Texas secretary of state from 1994 to 1995.
Negroponte is vice chairman of McLarty Associates, a leading international strategic advisory firm. He served as US deputy secretary of state from 2007 to 2009 and later as director of national intelligence.
US House Foreign Affairs subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific Chairman Matt Salmon has also announced that he will attend the inauguration.
Citigroup Inc plans to exit retail banking in 13 markets across Asia, and the region of Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The bank would instead operate its consumer-banking franchise in both regions from four wealth centers in Singapore, Hong Kong, the United Arab Emirates and London, it said yesterday in a statement. The move is part of an ongoing review of the company’s strategy by chief executive officer Jane Fraser, who took over last month. “This positions us to capture the strong growth and attractive returns the wealth-management business offers through these important hubs,” Fraser said. Citigroup is to exit its consumer
‘IMPORTANT PARTNER’: The new guidelines aim to encourage US engagement with Taiwan, which reflects a deepening relationship, the US Department of State said The US Department of State on Friday issued new guidelines governing US officials’ interactions with their Taiwanese counterparts, a move welcomed by Taipei as turning a new page in bilateral relations. Shortly before leaving office, then-US secretary of state Mike Pompeo on Jan. 9 announced the cancelation of previous contact guidelines, which he said were “self-imposed restrictions” that attempted to appease the Chinese Communist Party regime in Beijing. However, the status of the guidelines has been unclear since US President Joe Biden entered the White House. Asked about the issue during a legislative session on Thursday, Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Wu
CONFIDENTIAL: The trip had not been made public until just before ex-senator Chris Dodd, and ex-state department officials Richard Armitage and James Steinberg arrived The government yesterday welcomed an “unofficial” delegation sent by US President Joe Biden, while another delegation led by US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry was headed to Shanghai. Biden’s first delegation to Taiwan is made up of former US senator Chris Dodd, and former US deputy secretaries of state Richard Armitage and James Steinberg. They are to stay in Taiwan until tomorrow. Their arrival, on a chartered flight, had been kept confidential until media reported the visit yesterday morning, after which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a short notice that they were expected to arrive at 2:40pm. The flight landed at
‘IDEAL FIT’: A report on Sunday said that the Canadian government threatened to pull its support and funding from the HFX if the award was given to the president The government would respect the decision of the organizer of the John McCain Prize for Leadership in Public Service on whether it plans to award a prize to President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said yesterday. The statement was issued after US Web site Politico reported a day earlier that the Canadian government had warned the Halifax International Security Forum (HFX) not to give the award to Tsai for fear of provoking Beijing. “The ministry believes that if the Halifax International Security Forum confers the prize upon President Tsai, it would be an affirmation and honor for both
RSS