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Chen leaves for US and beyond

President Chen Shui-bian waves good-bye with First Lady Wu Shu-chen yesterday as they board a chartered jet at Chiang Kai-shek International Airport for a flight to New York, where they will stay for three days en route to Central America. PHOTO: AP

President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) left yesterday for a visit to Taiwan's allies in Latin America that will include two unprecedented stopovers in the US that are certain to irritate China and further strain US-China ties.

"Taiwan is a sovereign and independent state. Taiwan has to stand up and go out frequently to see the whole world as well as to let the international community acknowledge us," Chen said at the CKS International Airport before boarding a chartered flight yesterday afternoon.

Chen, accompanied by first lady Wu Shu-chen (吳淑珍), government officials and business leaders, headed to New York for a two-night stay on his way to El Salvador, Guatemala, Panama, Paraguay and Honduras.

Chen said the main purpose of his trip was to attend the third summit meeting between Taiwan's head of state and his counterpart in Taiwan's Central American ally countries. The summit is to take place in El Salvador on May 25.

Chen said he will exchange views with his counterparts in Central America to strengthen ties with Taiwan's allies, and that the trip would help emphasize Taiwan's ability and willingness to take a positive role in the international arena.

Places to go, things to do * President Chen left yesterday for the first leg of his trip, New York City, where he will stay for three days. * Chen will then fly on to El Salvador where he will attend the third summit meeting between Taiwan's head of state and the nation's Latin American allies on May 25. * From there, the president's entourage will continue on to Guatemala, Panama, Paraguay and Honduras before heading to Houston, Texas for a one-day stopover on June 3. * The entire delgation will return to Taiwan on June 5. Source: taipei times

During his stay in New York, Chen plans to meet about 20 members of Congress and New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, where Chen will be staying. He also plans visits to the New York Stock Exchange and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Chen is also expected to meet scholars from renowned US think tanks as well as overseas Taiwanese leaders. Chen is due to return to Taiwan on June 5 after a one-night stopover in Houston where his host senior Republican House member Tom DeLay plans to take him to an Astros baseball game and a meal at a Texas steakhouse.

China's official Xinhua news agency blasted Chen for "playing transit diplomacy," adding that Chen's second overseas trip since becoming president was designed to shift attention from Taiwan's economic chaos.

But according to a press release by the Government Information Office, Chen told a group of foreign correspondents in a joint interview that his scheduled meetings with US politicians were private in nature and were not indicative of a formal visit to the US.

In a press release Chen said that he could not believe that simply going for a steak with a US congressman would actually irritate China or prompt Beijing to retaliate with military force against Taiwan.

The scale and diplomatic manner of Chen's two short stop-overs in the US are the best treatment a Taiwan head of state has ever been given from the US government.

Analysts say the improved treatment Chen is expected to receive in the US reflects an amiable shift in US policy toward Taiwan under President George W. Bush.

During Chen's transit in Los Angeles last August en route to his visit to six allies in Central America and Africa, Chen was restricted by the Clinton administration from meeting any politicians and from making any public appearances.
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