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Tsai Ing-wen plans to
visit UK, Germany next month
By Vincent Y. Chao / Staff Reporter
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate and Chairperson Tsai
Ing-wen (蔡英文) will make two high-profile overseas stops in the UK and Germany
next month, where she is expected to deliver speeches and discuss energy policy.
On what will be her first trip abroad as a presidential candidate, Tsai will
spend two days in Berlin starting on June 6 and two in London, DPP spokesperson
Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁) said.
While it was unknown whether she would speak at the London School of Economics
and Political Science (LSE), her alma mater, Tsai is scheduled to speak at the
University of London’s School of Oriental and African Studies on June 6
Sources in her campaign said they were still in talks with the LSE to confirm
the location and time of a speech.
Former president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) and President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) spoke at
the LSE in 1999 and 2006 respectively before entering high office.
During the London visit, Tsai is also expected to meet with local Taiwanese
business groups and overseas Taiwanese.
Meeting with “important English [political] figures” will also be a part of the
visit, said Chen, who would not give further details.
In Berlin, Tsai will focus on green energy policy.
Chen said that she plans to study Germany’s renewable energy industry and
exchange opinions on nuclear safety and other security measures.
“We will be publishing more details of the trip once they are confirmed,” Chen
said.
Foreign policy is considered a strong point for the foreign--educated Tsai. She
also plans trips to the Philippines and the US in the run-up to the presidential
election in January, sources knowledgeable about her campaign have said.
She is scheduled to speak at a leadership meeting of Liberal International, a
gathering of international political parties on June 19, one day after meeting
with local Taiwanese business groups and oversea Taiwanese in Manila.
Trips abroad in her capacity as presidential candidate are a delicate issue for
Tsai and the DPP, because of possible interference from Beijing. Party officials
have been hesitant about publicizing details of the trips, they said, over such
worries.
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