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Paal comments called `unhelpful'

A leading pro-Taiwan congressman has publicly criticized American Institute in Taiwan director Douglas Paal for comments Paal made last week about Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) policy toward cross-strait economic relations.

New York Representative Benjamin Gilman, the former chairman of the House International Relations Committee, expressed disappointment with Paal's statements during remarks he made at a Capitol Hill congressional reception for first lady Wu Shu-chen (吳淑珍).

Gilman's comments were a jarring note at an event otherwise focused on Wu's accomplishments and pronouncements of close US-Taiwan relations.

Congressional sources say Gilman's comments were meant to raise some concerns about Paal's statements, which were made at a meeting of the American Chamber of Commerce in Taipei last week.

"We support the efforts of the Bush administration to clearly articulate a policy on Taiwan that places more emphasis on Taiwan's interests and less on our concerns with the People's Republic of China," Gilman told a gathering honoring Wu's visit.

"It was therefore disappointing to learn that the US representative to Taiwan recently criticized Taiwan's government for being concerned about Taiwanese investments in China. It makes no sense to shrug aside Taiwan's fears that Taiwan's investments in China are helping China's military to purchase more advanced equipment," Gilman said.

"We need to work closely with our administration to ensure that our nation sends and unambivalent message that we understand both the aspirations and the fears of the people of Taiwan," he said.

In his speech, Paal warned Taiwan against viewing China as an economic threat, rather than as an opportunity.

"If Taiwan continues to view the mainland through the prism of economic threat, it is in danger of isolating itself and getting cut out of tomorrow's deals," Paal said.

"This is a new reality that Taiwan, with its maturing economy, must accept. To ignore this fact of life or adopt policies to try to counter it will inevitably lead to self-marginalization," he said.

Expanding economic relations between China and Taiwan through investments and trade Paal said, would also encourage US investment in Taiwan.

Paal's comments were aimed at efforts by the Chen government to limit the growth of Taiwanese investment in China through its "active openness, effective management" policy for fear that such investments could hurt Taiwan strategically as well as economically.

Congressional sources told the Taipei Times that Gilman's remarks were aimed at raising to public discourse an issue that has been of private concern among some Taiwan supporters in Washington.

"This guy, Doug Paal, seems to be a maverick. He seems to have his own agenda," said one congressional source. "We know what he said and we don't think that he represents the [George W. Bush] administration" in making those comments, the source said.

"We heard about what he said [to AmCham] and we had this thing to do for [Wu], and we thought it was an appropriate time to raise some concern about it," the source said.

What Gilman said is "not meant as any criticism of the administration," the source said.
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