Diplomacy: US, Taiwan talking strategy

A new round of Taiwan-US strategic talks opened yesterday in Monterey, California, a Pentagon spokesman confirmed Monday. The spokesman said the talks were to be held from yesterday through today, but he refrained from divulging any other details about the meeting. Reliable sources said the Taiwan delegation to the Monterey round of strategic dialogue will be led by Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Michael Kau (高英茂), and its members will include Deputy Defense Minister Lee Hai-tung (李海東), Vice Chief of the General Staff Ju Kai-san (朱凱生) and Lin Chong-pin (林中斌), an adviser to the National Security Council. US officials to participate in the Monterey meeting will include Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs James Kelly, Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs Peter Rodman and White House National Security Council officials.