|
¡@
Lobbyists' merger leaves Taiwan out in
the cold
WASHINGTON PROMOTERS: Patton Boggs' takeover of the smaller Breaux Lott meant
dropping Taiwan as a client to focus on the bigger firm's client ¡X China
By William Lowther
STAFF REPORTER , WASHINGTON
Saturday, Jul 17, 2010, Page 1
Taiwan has lost out to China in the merger of two
Washington-based lobbying companies.
While the details are being kept secret, the giant Patton Boggs has in effect
taken over the boutique Breaux Lott Leadership Group.
Both companies make a living by ¡§lobbying¡¨ or persuading members of the US
Congress and other politicians to adopt policies promoted by their clients.
In this merger, the dominant Patton Boggs has China as a client, while the much
smaller Breaux Lott has Taiwan.
As a result, Taiwan is being dropped by the newly merged firm.
In a contract negotiated in May of last year with Taipei Economic and Cultural
Representative Office Representative Jason Yuan (°K°·¥Í), Breaux Lott has been
receiving US$35,000 a month to represent Taiwan.
It is not known how much China has been paying Patton Boggs, but it is
presumably much more.
Breaux Lott was run by former Democratic senator John Breaux of Louisiana and
former Republican senator Trent Lott of Mississippi. They will both now work for
the new company, but it is not known if they will be part of the China account.
If so, they will have to make a dramatic U-turn on some issues, such as arms
sales.
According to published reports, Breaux and Lott had a contract with Taiwan that
required them to ¡§advance and promote¡¨ Taiwan ¡§at all levels of the departments
and agencies of the US Government.¡¨
They were also obliged to help Taiwanese officials with ¡§introductions to and
negotiations with senior officials¡¨ of the US government.
Lott was supposed to work ¡§diligently to exhort members of Congress and the
United States Senate to act favorably on matters of interest and benefit to
Taiwan.¡¨
In addition, he was to provide recommendations and advice on how best to improve
relations between Taiwan and the US.
The decision by the new lobbying company to drop Taiwan has caused quite a stir
in Washington political circles involved in Asian issues.
Coen Blaauw, executive director of the Formosan Association for Public
Relations, said: ¡§If relations between Taiwan and China are so good, why can't
the new firm work for both countries?¡¨
¡§But no, they can't,¡¨ Blaauw said.
¡@
|
