Minister of Foreign Affairs Tien Hung-mao (
However, officials remained tight-lipped when asked if he planned to establish contacts with key players in the US presidential election.
According to a report released yesterday on ETtoday.com, an Internet news site, Tien left for the US on Sunday.
At the time it was still assumed that the results of the election would not be known until mid-December, the report stated.
Henry Chen (
"This sort of contact-making is probable. But MOFA is unable to confirm the report and does not intend to confirm it since it's simply too sensitive," Chen told the Taipei Times.
Chen, however, admitted that the scholar-turned-minister was to deliver a speech in Los Angeles today under the auspices of the World Affairs Council.
Another MOFA official, who requested anonymity, said Tien was also heading for his alma mater, the University of Wisconsin at Madison, where he received his master's degree and PhD, to receive an honorary alumnus certificate.
A convener of the Foreign Affairs Committee at the Legislative Yuan, who also requested anonymity, told the Taipei Times that Tien notified three conveners of the legislative committee on Thursday that he planned to go to the US for a week. But Tien remained tight-lipped about the details of his itinerary, the legislator added.
Chen stressed that MOFA had intended to keep quiet about Tien's trip, judging that any premature confirmation of his journey would only trigger efforts by Beijing authorities to try and block Tien's activities while visiting the US.
"I've attempted to keep his trip low-key, and the top priority as of now is to see he is able to deliver his speech," Chen said.
The lawmaker and Chen confirmed that Tien was to head for the east coast of the US after his speech in Los Angeles.
But due to a longstanding consensus between the US and Taiwan, no Taiwanese foreign minister, defense minister or head of National Security Council is allowed to visit the US capital Washington DC, and Tien is no exception, they said.
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