Wu Shu-chen (
District of Columbia police struggled to control the crowd, estimated at between 400 and 500 people, nearly losing control of the mass of well wishers pushing to follow Wu from the train platform to the station's main entryway.
PHOTO: LIU HSIN-TE, TAIPEI TIMES
Wu declined to make any statement upon her arrival to the large press corps from Taiwan covering her trip or to the welcoming crowd, who came from all over the Washington-Baltimore area, gathering hours before her train's scheduled arrival time.
Singing the Taiwanese song, Embracing our dream (
They also waved banners and placards saying, "Madame A-bian [阿扁], we love you," and "Let's go, Taiwan -- We Shall Overcome," with a picture of President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) cradling Wu in his arms.
Wu was radiant and smiled broadly, but appeared somewhat overwhelmed by the reception.
After receiving flowers from three young girls representing the overseas Chinese community, she waved to the crowd as a police cordon tried, often with only marginal success, to keep the people back.
Before leaving New York, Wu spent her last morning visiting "Ground Zero," where she laid a wreath for the victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. She also visited the Empire State Building, where she viewed a panorama of New York from the 86th floor.
Wu's spokesman James Huang (
"The major theme for this trip is democracy and goodwill and that is the message that she is going to deliver here in Washington," Huang told the Taipei Times at Union Station.
Huang said he was surprised by the turnout at the station.
"We were warmly received in New York, so we anticipated that our Taiwanese compatriots would warmly welcome the first lady in Washington. But I think the crowd turned out to be much bigger than we expected," he said.
Many Taiwanese-Americans said they were overjoyed by the visit.
"It is a historic event. We love it and we are quite exited about this," said Justin Hsu, president of the Baltimore chapter of the Taiwanese American Association.
"We've waited for this moment for so long. We hope President Chen's achievements can be recognized internationally and we hope he will be here soon," he said.
Huang Hsin-chi, president of the greater Washington chapter of the Taiwanese-American Association, told the Taipei Times he was "thrilled," with the visit.
He praised the fact that Wu, "despite the confinement of her body, should be courageous enough to accept the task of coming to [Washington] DC. She deserves our respect. We hope A-bian will come to DC."
For others, however, the reception was more muted.
"We have mixed feelings," said Thomas Jao Sye-yung (饒世永), president of the Washington chapter of the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association, a pro-KMT organization that opposes Taiwan independence.
"As the first lady of the Republic of China, of course we should welcome her," Jao said.
"But a lot of what she has said, we would not quite agree with," he said, citing statements the first lady has made out about Soong Mayling (
Wu will attend a reception on Capitol Hill tomorrow that is expected to attract at least as 100 senators and representatives, including the top leadership and many star lawmakers.
These will include Senate Majority Leader Thomas Daschle, Minority Leader Trent Lott, House Minority Whip Tom DeLay and House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt, Taipei Economic and Cultural Relations Office officials say.
Senator and former US first lady Hillary Clinton is also a possible attendee.
Officials said there were no plans for Wu to meet US first lady Laura Bush.
Tomorrow will be the first time the country's first lady has addressed members of the US Congress since Madame Chiang did so.
Wu was to meet some 250 of the capital's leading Asia scholars, think-tank fellows, business and political leaders as well as key retired officials, at a reception last night.
She will also make a speech at the conservative Washington-based think tank, the American Enterprise Institute, as well as visit the Jefferson Memorial and the exhibit on US first ladies at the National Museum of Natural History. She will also visit the National Rehabilitation Hospital and the national headquarters of the American Red Cross.
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