Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate Frank Hsieh (
On his first of three full days in Washington, Hsieh said he could not promise to retain the "four noes" that President Chen Shui-bian (
UN MEMBERSHIP
He also firmly declared his adherence to Chen's policy of seeking to enter the UN under the name of "Taiwan," and to hold an election-day referendum on the issue.
He also echoed Chen's assertions -- which the president made in an address beamed to the National Press Club in May -- that Taiwan is a sovereign state and that Washington's view of the "status quo" in the Taiwan Strait is flawed.
But in an effort to find a balance between Hsieh's and the DPP's vision of Taiwan's future and his need to retain and enhance good relations with Washington, Hsieh devoted much of his speech at the press club event -- and his answers to questions afterwards -- to the need to enhance communications between Taipei and Washington and the crucial importance of the US role in protecting Taiwan's existence against China's unrelenting military threat.
Hsieh made a strong plea for the US to allow high-level meetings between Taiwanese and US officials -- barred by successive US administrations -- to enable the two countries to communicate more effectively.
DEFENSE
Hsieh also stressed the importance of spending money on Taiwan's defense needs, a stance likely to endear him to US officials who are fed up with the actions of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) in stalling annual defense spending bills that would commit Taiwan to purchasing advanced US weapons systems.
But he linked any decision to spend more on defense with the need for a Taiwanese identity, and said that such an identity could come about only if the Taiwanese are "patriotic" and believe that they live in an independent country that is worth defending.
It is Hsieh's comments on whether he would retain the "four noes," in response to questions by Taiwanese reporters, that might raise the most eyebrows during the remainder of his Washington visit.
"I don't think it would be wise for me to stand here and make promises that would appear out of context in the broader environmental changes if I am elected," Hsieh said in remarks translated into English by the DPP's foreign affairs chief, Legislator Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴).
Expanding on that comment, however, Hsieh said: "Because I am not here making a pledge on the four noes does not mean I'm going to go out right away to break the `four' noes promise. It is because I believe that one must not easily make promises that would be hard to keep."
"So, I don't easily make promises, because I think the environment is dynamic and the environment and conditions will change," he said.
Regarding Chen's application to join the UN under the name "Taiwan" and his plan to hold an election-related referendum on popular support for the action, Hsieh gave a spirited statement in support of the bid and said he would pursue it if elected president.
"The Taiwanese people want more dignity, respect and international representation," he said. "It is logical that we demand that we want to be part of the United Nations."
"We feel that America needs to better understand Taiwan sentiment on our wanting to join the UN," he said.
The US, as a world power, "cannot easily understand the feeling of being isolated and marginalized in the international community," he said.
The DPP candidate said that the US should not be concerned that a UN referendum would lead to a poll on Taiwan independence or unification with China.
"I don't believe the US should be worried about that, because I believe Taiwan is already an independent country, and there is no need to promote Taiwan independence as a movement," he said.
Hsieh challenged the US in the definition of the "status quo," the retention of which is a central constituent of US cross-strait policy.
"The core question is, what is the `status quo'? Who defines the `status quo'? Does Taiwan or the United States or the world define the `status quo'? There could be differences in the definition and, therefore, differences interpreting changes to the `status quo,'" Hsieh said.
"We need to find a definition that is acceptable to all parties involved," Hsieh said.
"This is something we should explore with the Americans, as to what kind of definition of the `status quo' is in Taiwan's best interest and in the US' best interest, and more important, what definition of the `status quo' does best guarantees [sic] stability and security in the Asia-Pacific region," he said.
Taiwanese officials involved in planning Hsieh's schedule have been tight lipped about who in the administration he will see during his Washington visit, for fear of China's reaction.
If the meetings were tipped beforehand, one person involved told the Taipei Times, the Chinese embassy would be on the phone with the US State Department to try to cancel the meetings. And the department, he said, "would kowtow to the Chinese."
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