Given China's high-handed pressure, it is difficult for ROC presidents, both former and current ones, to make overseas visits. Although former president Lee Teng-hui
Chen will depart next month for a visit to five Latin American allies, following the one-year anniversary of his inauguration. The trip will be the second of his presidency. The trip's theme is "cooperate for mutual prosperity, a journey of friendship." Chen will also attend the third "ROC President and Latin-American Leaders Summit," which aims to strengthen the regional strategic alliance and cooperation.
While the destination of Chen's trip is Latin America, the biggest breakthrough may come in the US. The president may make a transit stop in New York on route to Latin America. On the way back, he will stop over in Houston. If these plans materialize, it will be the first time that a president of the ROC has set foot in New York City in 52 years. His stopover in Houston is expected to include a visit to the presidential library of former president George Bush, as well as a tour of NASA. He will also meet with members of the local Taiwanese community. Such privileges were not extended to previous ROC presidents transiting the US.
While the US government supposedly makes the arrangements for the transit stops of top-ranking officials from Taiwan based on security, comfort and convenience, this hasn't always been the case. During Lee's first transit stop in Hawaii when he was president, he refused to leave his plane because of what he saw as the unreasonableness of the restrictions imposed upon him by the US. During Chen's stopover in Los Angeles last year, US congressmen wanting to meet with him could only do so at his hotel. But they had to enter the hotel through the kitchen entrance and could only shake hands with him in the hallway. Even more humiliating, the car provided for him broke down.
Such treatment is not the way the US should handle the leader of an ally. Vice President Annette Lu
We can understand that given the hysterical protests by China, the US cannot do much. Taiwanese officials stopping over in the US should keep a low profile to avoid causing trouble for their hosts. However, the US should consider what respect and courtesy is due Taiwanese officials. This will show respect to the people of both countries, as well as the importance attached to a democratic ally. It would not only be compatible with bilateral cooperation between the two countries, but also facilitate positive understanding and interactions between the people of the two sides.
The Clinton administration had unrealistic dreams about its ability to forge a strategic partnership with China and therefore was extremely accommodating to Beijing, while compromising and sacrificing the dignity and interests of Taiwan. The EP-3 surveillance plane collision has finally made the US realize that the Sino-American relationship is truly a competitive one. While the US may wish to avoid provoking China in order to minimize unnecessary tensions, it should remember that accommodating China too much -- by walking roughshod over an ally -- is not wise either.
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