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Why Taiwan's President Is Getting First Class Treatment in the US This Month

Ralph Jennings

   TAIPEI - On a two-day visit to New York this month, Taiwan President
   Tsai Ing-wen vowed in a speech never to "succumb to any threats" from
   China. She mixed too with U.S. Congress members in America's largest
   city. Reporters were allowed to cover some of her events. It is more
   open and welcoming than past U.S. trips by Taiwan presidents.

   Tsai, passing through New York on her way to visit former diplomatic
   allies in the Caribbean, will return to Taipei after spending another
   two days in the United States before July 22.

   In the past, Washington has held visits by Taiwanese presidents to
   shorter periods, smaller cities and lower-profile activities --
   sometimes just aircraft refueling. The idea was to offer transit stops,
   for comfort and convenience, but avoid upsetting China. China sees
   self-ruled Taiwan as part of its territory rather than a state entitled
   to foreign relations. Washington and Beijing recognize each other
   diplomatically.

   Tsai is getting to do more than usual this month because the U.S.
   government is upgrading relations with Taiwan and expressing
   exasperation with China, experts believe.

   "At this moment, I think both the Taiwan government and the U.S.
   government prefer to see this as kind of a one-step further enhancement
   of diplomatic relationships," said Liu Yih-jiun, public affairs
   professor at Fo Guang University in Taiwan.

   Time, place and activity upgrades

   Taiwan presidents have been allowed stopovers in the United States
   since the 1990s. They are officially transit stops between Taipei and
   visits to diplomatic allies in the Americas and South Pacific.

   In 2006, Taiwan ex-president Chen Shui-bian stopped in the relatively
   remote city of Anchorage for a simple refueling -- and he complained
   then of inconvenience. But Chen had ruffled the United States by
   provoking China at a time when U.S. officials hoped the two Asian
   governments would seek peace.

   Seven years later, Taiwan's ex-president Ma Ying-jeou visited New York
   for 40 hours but avoided slamming China in any meetings there. Ma had
   set aside disputes with China to start landmark negotiations with the
   Communist government.

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