US interested in elections

The US government is concerned about the "three-in-one" elections being held today and their possible impact on future political developments in Taiwan, Taiwan's top representative to the US, David Lee (李大維), said on Thursday.

Speaking during a press briefing in Washington, Lee said that although Saturday's elections are only at the local level, various senior US officials from different agencies had recently asked about and shown a keen interest in the polls.

Regarding President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) remarks that cross-strait relations will be strained if the pan-blue camp wins in today's elections, and Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Ma Ying-jeou's (馬英九) threat to quit if the KMT fails to garner more than half of the county commissioner seats, Lee said the US understands that these remarks have to be seen in context.

US officials are actually quite familiar with the latest developments in the elections, Lee said. But he added that they will maintain neutrality toward them and are only interested in whether the process is democratic and whether the results will in any way influence the political situation.

The US did not mention whether it regards the elections as a mid-term test for Chen, Lee said, adding that he would give US officials a briefing after counting ends tomorrow evening.

It is natural that the US cares about major events in Taiwan because of the long-term good and close relations between the two countries, Lee said.

To the US, elections for the local posts this weekend are a very important political event, Lee said, noting that American Institute in Taiwan officials have periodically reported the latest developments to Washington, while Washington has also collected information through local media reports.

Lee is scheduled to return to Taiwan on Thursday in order to prepare for a Dec. 14 report that he will give to the legislature's foreign affairs committee on US-Taiwan relations.