Former South Korean president Kim Young-sam landed in Taipei yesterday for a five-day visit amid questions over whether the trip could help mend ties between Taipei and Seoul. The two countries severed ties in 1992.
Invited by President Chen Shui-bian (
"We and [Kim] hope that his visit will help facilitate a normalization of ties in various areas between the two countries, including the resumption of air links," Eugene Chien said.
DPP legislator Lin Feng Hsi (
"The meetings should be held outside of the foreign ministry, but I can't reveal the details," said Lin, convener of the foreign and overseas Chinese affairs committee at the Legislative Yuan.
Air dispute far from resolution
Officials denied the possibility of resolving the thorny aviation impasse during the meetings.
"It's impossible for him to serve as the negotiator [representing the Korean government]. He has retired and is not responsible for this any longer. He's just here to express his goodwill," Chien said.
A veteran expert on South Korean affairs who attended a lunch hosted by Chien offered a similar view.
"Since he's here to bring up the subject, we of course can discuss the issue with him. But whether that will lead to a solution is another matter," he said.
Taking into account the less-than-amiable ties between South Korean President Kim Dae-jung and visiting ex-president Kim Young-sam, the expert said it's unlikely that Kim would act as the South Korean government's envoy.
In 1993, Kim became the first non-military president in South Korean history.
Amid corruption scandals and a loss in public confidence, he was succeeded by Kim Dae-jung in 1998.
The trade deficit between Seoul and Taipei, which amounted to US$6 billion last year, was an even more pressing issue than the resumption of direct air links, the expert said.
"We should let them [the South Koreans] know that it's their fault ... How can [South] Korea turn a blind eye to the enormous trade surplus Seoul enjoys over Taipei?" he said.
Over the years, Taipei has asked South Korea to hold meetings between ministers of economic affairs to tackle the trade deficit issue, but Seoul has repeatedly turned down the proposal.
Meanwhile, Minister of Foreign Affairs Tien Hung-mao (
Luminaries
Business leaders attending the banquet included Cheng Chin-chung (鄭金泉), president of EVA Airways; Harvey Chen (陳運東), president of Mercuries and Associates; Chen Ting-huei (陳庭輝), president of Yangming Marine Transport Corp; and Theodore Huang (黃茂雄), president of TECO Electric and Machinery.
Kim is scheduled to meet Chen twice, with the first meeting to be held this morning and the second scheduled for tomorrow morning.
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