Washington, May 3 (CNA) Republic of China President Chen Shui-bian
has said in an interview with USA TODAY that he hopes to have the
unique experience of flying back to Taipei in Texas-style boots and
hat after a transit stop in Houston late this month.
Chen gave the interview with USA TODAY reporter Paul Wiseman at the
Presidential Office in Taipei Wednesday. The largest United States
paper published the interview in its Thursday edition.
In
the interview, Chen also urge mainland China to renounce its attempt
to use force against Taiwan and reaffirmed his willingness to meet
with mainland Chinese President Jiang Zemin or other Beijing leaders
with no prior conditions.
Chen is scheduled to visit five ROC allies in Latin America later
this month. He told the U.S. paper that he hopes to transit through
New York en route to El Salvador. On his return trip from Honduras,
he hopes to transit through Houston.
"If there are no surprises, I think it will be possible to transit
through these two cities," Chen said, adding that if the transit
through New York goes smoothly, it will be a historical first. "It
will make a record for the first president of the Republic of China
to transit through in New York City." Chen noted, adding that
he hopes to have a two-night transit stop in New York.
Chen
said many American friends have expressed an interest in meeting him.
"And I have been very touched by such a reception," Chen
said, adding that he wants to thank the Bush administration and other
individuals for all the arrangements and assistance for his transit
through the two U.S. cities.
Chen said he thinks the fact that so many American friends have expressed
an interest in meeting him illustrates their high degree of concern
and interest in Taiwan. The youngest-ever ROC president further said
he hopes that during his upcoming U.S. transit some things that happened
last August will not happen again.
During his transit through Los Angeles last August, Chen was banned
from meeting some American congressmen who wanted to meet him. "I
hope that this transit will be unlike my Los Angeles transit last
year in the sense that I was only staying inside the hotel and couldn't
go out," Chen said.
If the Bush administration changes those practices and restrictions,
Chen went on, the new arrangements and assistance would reflect improvements
in substantive Taiwan-U.S. relations.
Asked whether he would meet with Rep. Thomas D. DeLay (R-Texas) during
his layover in Houston, Chen said: "I hope to see those who I
want to see. I hope those who want to see me can also be satisfied."
Through press reports, Chen said he learned that DeLay has expressed
an interest in meeting him, would invite him to attend a ball game
and wanted to give him a hat and boots that represent the spirit of
Texas. "I hope that this time I can have such unique experience,
flying back to Taipei in Texas-style boots and hat. I hope to have
an opportunity to be a Texan cowboy," Chen said.
Commenting on President George W. Bush's recent promise to do "whatever
it takes" to help defend Taiwan, Chen said he doesn't think that
U.S.-China policy will have any overnight dramatic changes.
Touching on differences between Bush's approach to mainland China
and cross-strait relations and his predecessor Bill Clinton's, Chen
said Clinton has described the U.S.-mainland China relationship as
a strategic partnership, while Bush understands that their relationship
is not one of strategic partnership but rather one of strategic competition.
"Of
course, the United States will not see China as a complete enemy,
but neither will China be a 100 percent cooperative partner,"
Chen said, adding that the United States and China will be competitors.
And I believe this was indicated through the handling of the flight
collision over Hainan Island."
Chen continued that Bush's decision to develop an extensive national
missile defense (NMD) system is not without reason. "And the
United States' decision to provide Taiwan with necessary defensive
weapons is also to ensure peace in Taiwan as well as to enhance the
democracy developed on this island." And the United States arms
sales are also expected to give the 23 million people of Taiwan more
confidence to engage in peaceful dialogue with mainland China, Chen
said.
In
the interview, Chen mentioned that the Hollywood movie Thirteen Days
has been shown in Taiwan recently. The film depicted the 13-day Cuban
missile crisis in the early 1960s.
"At the time the pressure on the American people was felt for
a mere 13 days … while Taiwan faces the threat from the PRC day by
day. It's a daily fact of life here," Chen said.
He further said Taiwan's arms procurement plan depends on the attitude
of mainland China. "We hope that we will see a change in their
military posture, a decrease in missile deployment in their coastal
area aimed at Taiwan. If we can resume dialogue, if China will cease
its military buildup and abandon the threat to use force against Taiwan,
we can make our adjustments accordingly," Chen said.
He pointed out that it would be best if both sides of the Taiwan
Strait could divert the funds and resources in arms sales to other
areas like economic development, infrastructure construction, medical
care, education and social welfare.
Chen also said he believes that the way the recent U.S.-mainland
China plane collision happened as well as how mainland China handled
the aftermath have led many people to believe that mainland China
is indeed a threat to the Asia-Pacific region.
Meanwhile,
Chen criticized mainland China's policy of not interacting with his
administration and only choosing to dialogue with Taiwan's opposition
parties and civic groups. Chen said the Beijing leadership should
understand that Taipei's cross-strait policy is not decided by opposition
parties nor by civic groups.
He stressed that Beijing's refusal to interact with his administration
will not improve cross-strait relations. "I hope to have an opportunity
to engage in direct communication, contact and dialogue with mainland
China," Chen noted, adding that he hopes mainland China can sincerely
join Taiwan in seeking permanent peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific
region.
