US Approves of Taiwan Official's "Passing Through" Four US CitiesUS Department of State recently noted that the Bush administration has agreed that Chang Chun-hsiung, "premier" of Taiwan "Executive Yuan", may pass through New York, Miami, Los Angeles and Honolulu in his round trip to the Caribbean Sea in September, making arrangements for him in line with the principle of "security, comfort, convenience" and "dignity".An official of the US Department of State said in answering Taiwan journalist's question Wednesday evening that the US side has approved the request raised by Taiwan authorities concerning Chang Chun-hsiung's transit visit to the United States. The official said Chang would arrive in New York on September 1 and leave New York for the Caribbean Sea the next day. After visiting four Caribbean nations including St. Kitts and Nevis, Chang will go to Miami on September 8 for a transit to Los Angeles. He will leave Los Angeles for Honolulu on September 9 and stay there for two days. Chang is scheduled to return to Taipei on September 11. Another report said that Chang would stay for three days in New York. The official noted that the United States agreed to arrange the matter in accordance with the previous mode of receiving Taiwan leaders passing through the United States and on the principle of "security, comfort and convenience". Meanwhile, it will "respect the dignity of the traveler". Chang will be received by Richard C. Bush, chairman and managing director of the American Institute in Taiwan, on behalf of the US side, the official said, with regard to the question whether Chang will meet with US Congressmen, the question should be answered by Taipei. Chang will not have open activities during his transit visit to the United States The official added that US administrative officials have no plan to meet with Chang Chun-hsiung. In mid-August last year and around the time of May and June this year, the United States allowed Chen Shui-bian to pass through some US cities including Los Angeles, New York and Houston on his way to Central America. The government also relaxed restriction on Chen's activities in the United States. This had severely damaged the Sino-US relationship and evoked Beijing's strong protest. Beijing has made repeated solemn and just statements that it is the well-known trick played by the Taiwan authorities to take "transit visit" as an excuse to engage in splitting activities for creating "two Chinas" or "one China, one Taiwan". The Chinese government has consistently opposed the United States to carry out any official contact and exchange with Taiwan and has always been against US permission of Taiwan official's "passing through" the country. By PD Online staff member Du Minghua |
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