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Envoy meets two key US representatives

The country's new representative to the US, Joseph Wu (吳釗燮), paid courtesy calls to two leaders of the US House of Representatives' Taiwan Caucus on Thursday to exchange views on issues of mutual concern.

Wu, who formally assumed his post in Washington on Monday, met with Republican Steve Chabot of Ohio and Democrat Shelley Berkley of Nevada at their respective offices on Capitol Hill.

Wu said that although Taiwan and the US take different positions on certain issues, Taipei is determined to consult and communicate with Washington in a "frank and sincere manner."

As to Taiwan's bid to join the WHO and to sign a free trade agreement (FTA) with the US, Wu said that although both goals "may appear impossible at the moment," he is undaunted by the task and will relentlessly pursue these goals.

Wu said he explained to the two Taiwan Caucus leaders that the US-South Korea FTA, signed earlier this month, put Taiwan at a disadvantage, adding that it would undermine Taiwan's economic development.

Wu expressed his strong hope that the US Congress would consider the "deep and wide" business and trade relations between Taiwan and the US and push for the signing of an FTA between the two nations.

He further said that in their meeting, Chabot told him that a US-Taiwan FTA was in the US' best interest and that many members of Congress from both the Democratic and Republican parties were interested in pursuing such a pact.

On the issue of Taiwan's plan to bid for entry into the WHO as a full member under the name "Taiwan," Chabot said it was "high time" for Taiwan to do so, according to Wu.

Unfortunately, Wu continued, Chabot further said that China has persistently obstructed Taiwan's, bid but that he and other Taiwan Caucus members would nevertheless continue to work relentlessly toward that goal despite the many obstacles.

For her part, Berkley told Wu that she and other Taiwan Caucus co-chairs would shortly initiate a proposal urging the administration of US President George W. Bush to begin working on matters regarding the signing of an FTA with Taiwan.

She said she anticipated that other members of the caucus would join the effort in the near future.

Berkley added that three other Taiwan Caucus co-chairs -- Democrat Robert Wexler of Florida, Republican Dana Rohrabacher of California and Chabot -- will all sign the proposal to push the Bush administration to take concrete steps toward forging an FTA with Taiwan.

On Taiwan's plan to apply to join the WHO under the name "Taiwan," Berkley told Wu it is a critical issue as Taiwan's 23 million people are entitled to that right and privilege, adding that she supports the "Taiwan" initiative and will try her best to help Taiwan succeed.
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