Taiwan congratulated US president-elect George W. Bush yesterday, saying future ties between Taiwan and the US could become stronger on the basis of common respect for democracy.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs admitted, however, that a substantial US policy change toward Taiwan would be unlikely under Bush's administration.
President Chen Shui-bian (
"The two countries have common principles in pursuing democracy and respecting human rights. This year, the people of our two countries elected new leaderships through democratic means, and future ties can become stronger on the basis of democracy," the statement quoted Chen as saying.
Foreign Minister Tien Hung-mao (
Taiwan stood to benefit more from a Bush victory as the Republican Texas governor took a harder line towards China compared to his Democratic rival, Al Gore, Tien said.
Furthermore, Bush's key advisers have held rather "sympathetic views" on Taiwan and are more familiar with Taiwan's issues than their counterparts from Gore's camp, the foreign minister added.
But Tien said US policy toward China has been formulated during the terms of the past six US presidents, and is therefore unlikely to undergo drastic change under Bush's administration. Tien said Taiwan expected the Bush administration to handle cross-strait issues with a "balanced stance."
"With regard to cross-strait relations, we hope to see the US reiterate its opposition to China's military aggression against Taiwan, its support for a peaceful solution to the cross-strait issue, and its previous stance that any resolution of the issue should have the consent of the people of Taiwan," Tien said.
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