Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Deputy Chairman Hsiao Hsu-tsen’s (蕭旭岑) labeling of American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Director Raymond Greene as “a small fish” in the US Department of State was not supported by heavyweights within his own party.
The Cabinet’s version of the NT$1.25 trillion (US$39.5 billion) special defense budget bill is being blocked in the Legislative Yuan by the opposition parties, leading to criticism from some US senators, with the department and Greene publicly voicing their support for the bill.
Asked about it on Friday in a radio interview, Hsiao said the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) was bringing in US politicians to pressure the legislature to pass President William Lai’s (賴清德) special defense budget.
Photo: Liao Yao-tung, Taipei Times
Greene’s position in the US government is akin to a division director in Taiwan, he added.
In response to media queries for comment, KMT Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen (盧秀燕) yesterday said that Taiwan-US relations are not a trivial matter, adding that trilateral US-Taiwan-China relations are imperative for Taiwan’s safety, cross-strait peace, and regional prosperity and stability.
The AIT’s three recent visits to Taichung highlighted its emphasis on and friendliness toward the municipality, she added.
KMT Deputy Legislative Speaker Johnny Chinag (江啟臣) also spoke out against Hsiao’s comments, saying that Greene, as AIT director, was akin to an ambassador in the department, or equivalent to a lieutenant general in the US Department of Defense.
Regardless of whether he served as the AIT director or as a formal ambassador, “he represents his country” and should command respect according to his station, Chiang said.
Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁) of the DPP yesterday said Hsiao’s comments were inappropriate and rude.
Diplomacy is the result of efforts through multiple agreements and collaborations in national defense, culture and tourism, Chen said, adding that when Taiwan faces difficulties on the international diplomatic front, one should respect friends who have supported it.
Derogatory or emotional commentary is unnecessary, he said.
Additional reporting by Huang Liang-chieh
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