Posted on 05/02/2006 10:52:38 PM PDT by tallhappy
US decides on transit plan: source
BUSH APPROVAL: Chen Shui-bian will not be allowed to land in the continental US nor stay overnight, officials said, adding that the US president had made the decision
By Charles Snyder and Nadia Tsao
STAFF REPORTERS IN WASHINGTON
Wednesday, May 03, 2006,Page 3
A US source said yesterday that US President George W. Bush will allow President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) to transit through the US on his way to and from Latin America. Bush authorized Chen to stop in Honolulu, Hawaii, on his way to Latin America, and in Anchorage, Alaska, on his return flight.
However, Chen is only allowed to rest and refuel, and is not permitted to stay overnight in either city. The decision, which was proposed by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, was made by Bush himself, US and Taiwanese diplomatic sources said.
Chen is scheduled to depart Taipei today for Paraguay. He will later visit Costa Rica for the inauguration of president-elect Oscar Arias before returning to Taipei May 11.
The Chen administration is also understood to be shocked and displeased with Bush's reponse to its request, and has called for more negotiations on the matter.
The US source said that the US Department of State and National Security Council presented Bush with a number of recommendations, and that the stopover itinerary that Bush ultimately decided on was the simplest among them.
Meanwhile, a state department official confirmed that the US would allow Chen to make transit stops, but would not provide specifics.
Close relations
"In keeping with our close and cooperative informal relations with Taiwan and our intent to work productively with President Chen Shui-bian in the years ahead, the United States is prepared to facilitate transits for Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian on his way to and from Paraguay and Costa Rica," the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said.
He said that the request was approved on the basis of the safety, comfort and convenience of Chen, "while respecting the dignity of the traveler."
Meanwhile, Foreign Affairs Minister James Huang (黃志芳) yesterday ascribed the US' slowness in responding to Taiwan's request for Chen's stop-overs to Washington's preoccupation with Iran's nuclear program, with which the US needs China's support for a hardline approach towards Iran.
Huang said the procrastination was also due to the recent visit to the US by Chinese President Hu Jintao (胡錦濤).
Taiwan filed the stopover requests with US officials April 21.
"The US-Taiwan negotiations over the transit stops were greatly affected by Hu's visit to the US, which had squeezed out the working time for both Taiwan and the US authorities over the matter," Huang said.
Chen had reportedly wanted to stop in New York City on his return trip next week.
Chen has not visited the East Coast of the US since September 2003, when he traveled to New York to receive a human rights award and made several public statements despite the vehement objections of China.
During that trip, his activities reportedly annoyed the Bush administration, which was then trying to improve relations with Beijing, after the then-chairwoman of the American Institute in Taiwan, Therese Shaheen, declared that Bush was "the guardian angel" of Chen's trip.
Restricted
In his first -- and only other -- trip to New York as president in 2001, Chen was more restricted, not being allowed to make any public statements, although he did give a speech to a large group of congress members, who chartered a military flight to travel from Washington to have dinner with him.
Since those two New York stopovers, Chen has been limited to West Coast and Southwest cities, including Houston, the home of the then-House majority leader Tom DeLay, a prominent supporter of Taiwan.
Additional reporting by Chang Yun-ping
LOL! HILARIOUS coming from the author of this post (complete and unedited):
" Oh yeah, this will keep Israel from being bombed. The speciousness of some comments."
Yep, you sure showed some amazing insights into the process there. As for spewing insults--calling your point silloy is spewing insults? A bit sensitive, I'd say.
What precisely in your post was I supposed to respond to--the LIE that I claimed letting the president of Taiwan land would lead to Israel being bombed? You didn't grasp the plain-as-day point that China's help was needed against Iran, which is acquiring nuclear capability, and that in matters of diplomacy we must often make a TINY, meaningless sacrifice (would any of us give a damn or even read a report about the Taiwanese president visiting South America otherwise) to work with an unsavory ally for a greater goal?
You didn't grasp that?
Thanks so much for proving my point. (So sorry, was that "spewing insults" again?)
So am I. Between this and the protester arrested for yelling at the Communist Chinese president- sometimes I wonder what's really going on here.
They had better. I really don't like giving the finger to the leader of a free nation being threatened by a totalitarian one.
I have tremendous sympathy for Taiwan. They are an island nation that is threatened by a continental fascist power.
This has echoes for me.
I am displeased that President Bush had to do this (if the story is accurate). I will be even more displeased if this buys nothing from the Reds.
Regards, Ivan
The wheels are just flying off.
They act as if Chen is some sort of evil dictator.
They been selling out Israel for decades for black gold.
In doing so they poke their finger in the eye of God.
They have become their own Gods deciding for themselves what is right and what is wrong.
This country's political parties no longer care about putting morals,human rights and freedoms first.
It has been taken over by businessmen who place making a dollar above everything else.
This administration is one of the worst.
Taiwan you had better know that you and your people are for sale to Red China.
Our leaders no longer fear God they worship mammon.
>>>>This is crazy. This is what Clinton did.
>>Bush needs mainland China to help pressure Iran.
So remind me, exactly what has China done to help pressure Iran? I must have missed it.
This stinks, if it has happened as reported. Period.
Chinese request, no doubt.
'Bush is suddenly tough on letting foreigners into the US.' Yeah, who knew?
Utterly shameful. WTF is Dubya thinking? And, what has happened to this country? Millions of criminal aliens seem more welcome than the leader of a solid, longtime ally. Have we lost our minds?
Disgusting. Put millions of criminals on a path to citizenship, but the leader of a free nation is not even allowed to stay overnight.
Don't be silly. No one in his right mind is ever rude to the loan officer at his bank!
Close.
They will allow us to say that we are displeased with Iran's position, and hope that they will be willing to accept some kind of compromise from us. But we'll have to be polite about it. China is real big on "polite", you know.
Would it be better for them to party in Vegas or know that when all hell breaks loose it will be the U.S. that will help defend the straits?
(note: China knows which way the wind blows, otherwise why have they not invaded.)
bump to that!!
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