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No negotiations, no visit, MAC says of Chinese official

China's demand that Taiwan consent to a visit by its top official in charge of Taiwanese affairs while refusing advance negotiations over the matter is unacceptable, Mainland Affairs Council Chairman Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) said in Washington on Tuesday.

Wu said Taiwan had never rejected a visit by Chen Yunlin (陳雲林), director of Beijing's Taiwan Affairs Office, but would insist that negotiations take place before Chen is allowed to set foot on Taiwanese soil.

Wu, who arrived in the US on Monday for a week-long visit, said that China had to abide by international standards of courtesy and engage in bilateral talks before Taiwan would allow Chen to visit.

Wu was speaking to reporters after delivering a speech at the Washington-based think tank Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.

Wu said the council had relayed messages to Beijing through Taiwan's Straits Exchange Foundation saying that negotiations would be a prerequisite for any visit.

However, the Chinese authorities reportedly said that Taiwan should consent first to the visit before talks could be conducted, and then only on the subject of itinerary, he said.

The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) has invited Chen to visit Taiwan to take part in an agricultural forum from Oct. 13 to Oct. 18 in Taipei as part of exchanges between the KMT and the Chinese Communist Party.

Wu said it would be unacceptable to the council and the Cabinet if Beijing only conducted talks with the opposition party.

During his stay in Washington, Wu will meet with US officials and think tank researchers. He will also deliver a public speech in Los Angeles and give interviews to major US news outlets.

Wu last visited Washington nine months ago.

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