In face of a possible policy shift in US policy towards China after its presidential election in November, Minister of Foreign Affairs Tien Hung-mao (
Tien said during interpellation yesterday that he is planning to travel to the US in the fall, after the Legislative Yuan recess later this month.
"I hope to visit the US before their presidential election to gain a better understanding of the situation," Tien told reporters after the interpellation session.
During questioning by KMT Legislator Eric Chu (
"There is always an idealism in US foreign policy during the presidential campaign but realism quickly prevails after the election ... whether there will be a shift in US policy after the election, that is something we need to keep a close watch on," Tien said.
He said the foreign ministry has been in contact with the foreign policy and national security advisors of both US presidential candidates.
It is unclear who Tien will meet or whether he will have any public appearances during his scheduled visit to the US in September.
Taiwan's foreign minister is allowed to travel to the US but is banned from stepping into Washington DC due to the politically sensitive nature of Taipei-Washington-Beijing relations.
Former foreign minister Jason Hu's (胡志強) travel to the US during his stint in office included an invitation to give a speech at the University of Chicago last year.
An article written by George Bush Jr's top foreign policy advisor Condoleeza Rice in the January/February issue of Foreign Affairs, calling for a reassessment of Washington's engagement policy towards China, has raised considerable attention in Taiwan.
Rice said the US should pursue its "national interest" and treat China and Russia as competitors rather than partners.
Meanwhile, in the first joint interpellation attended by Tien and Chairperson of the Mainland Affairs Council Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文), both said foreign and cross-strait policies should be conducted in parallel.
"We cannot backslide on our diplomatic work just because of pressure from China, but at the same time strategic and directional adjustments can be made so it will not affect cross-strait policy," wrote Tien in the report to parliament, clarifying his controversial statement last month calling for a diplomatic truce across the Strait.
He emphasized any diplomatic concession made by Taiwan would be contingent on goodwill from Beijing.
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