Instead of celebrating at home the DPP government's anniversary, President Chen Shui-bian (
A major highlight of Chen's tour will be his stopovers in the US both on the way to and back from Latin America.
Chen went on his first presidential diplomatic tour, a six-leg trip of Taiwan's allies in Central America and Africa, last August. This time Chen, accompanied by first lady Wu Shu-chen (
"The treatment which President Chen and the delegation will receive during the stopovers in New York and Houston will create some breakthroughs," said Eugene Chien (
Chen, leading a 150-member delegation, leaves Taiwan today -- the day after the first anniversary of his inauguration, and his chartered plane will arrive in New York at 9pm New York time. Chen will leave New York on the morning of May 23.
According to sources in the president's office, Chen and Wu will visit the New York Stock Exchange and Metropolitan Art Museum, and hold "many private meetings with US politicians."
Chen will meet with New York city Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and around 20 US congressmen privately at the Waldorf Hotel, where Chen will be staying. The President's tight meeting schedule includes some famous US think tank scholars and overseas Taiwan groups leaders.
"The scale and diplomatic manner of Chen's two short transits will be the best treatment from the US government that a Taiwan head of state has ever received," Chien said.
Chen's visit also reflects a clear shift in the US' Taiwan policy under President George W. Bush's administration. During last August's stopover in Los Angels en route to Central America, Chen was restricted by the Clinton administration from meeting any politicians and from making any public appearances.
The Clinton administration was anxious not to infuriate China -- although firebrand Republican congressman Dana Rohrbacher gatecrashed a function to greet him. But this time, the US government has not discouraged US politicians from meeting with Chen.
"What we are saying is that we believe such meetings advance the interests of both sides," said an administration official, on condition of anonymity, last week.
Taiwan's media regard the stopovers as the biggest challenge in Chen's two-week schedule and are preparing to provide substantial coverage of Chen's treatment by the US government.
On his way home, Chen will make a stopover in Houston, Texas, on June 2 and 3, where he plans to watch a baseball game and visit a museum and library dedicated to former US President George Bush, and the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
"I will be hosted by House majority whip Tom Delay and given a hat and boots that reflect the `spirit of Texas,' and I hope to fly home to Taipei in Texas-style," Chen said when interviewed by USA Today last month.
One of the major events on Chen's itinerary on his tour of Latin and Central America will be his attendance at a summit meeting between the senior leaders of Taiwan and its Central American allies, scheduled to open in El Salvador on May 25.
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