Taiwan to keep close tabs on Bush's talks with China

Taiwan is keeping a wary eye on US President George W. Bush's China visit despite assurances by Washington that Taipei's interests would not be traded away during the trip.

The US had guaranteed Taipei that it would not dilute its backing for the nation in return for better relations with Beijing, Taiwan's foreign ministry spokeswoman Katharine Chang (張小月) said.

"Through some proper channels, we have been told that there should not be surprises" during Bush's visit to China, she said.

The top US official handling Taiwan affairs, Richard Bush -- no relation of the president -- also sought to ease Taipei's concerns during a visit to the nation last month.

"He made it clear that relations between Taipei and Washington are getting better," said Joseph Wu (吳釗燮), deputy director of the Institute of International Relations at National Chengchi University.

Richard Bush is chairman and managing director of the American Institute in Taiwan.

The US president embarked on a week-long tour of Asia late Saturday with stopovers in Japan, South Korea and China.

He will meet Chinese President Jiang Zemin (江澤民) on Feb. 21 and Feb. 22.

Wu said he believed overall Taiwan interests were protected from knocks by the Bush administration because Taiwan enjoyed "strong support" among decision-makers in the White House, the State Department and the Department of Defense.

Taiwan's foreign ministry has set up an ad hoc group to monitor Bush's Asia trip around-the-clock and report to President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁), Chang said.