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U.S. EXPECTED TO LAUD TAIWAN'S DEMOCRACY AFTER ELECTION: ROC ENVOY

2004-03-04 16:04:43

    Washington, March 3 (CNA) The Republic of China's top official in the United States said Wednesday that he predicts the Bush administration will make a statement praising Taiwan's democracy after the March 20 presidential election.

    Chen Chien-jen, Taiwan's representative to the United States, made the prediction at a press briefing in Washington, D.C.

    Saying that the referendum to be held alongside the election has raised concern in the United States about the election itself, Chen said that after various communications over the last two months, Washington now has a better understanding about the Taipei authorities' position on the issue.

    Noting that the U.S. is always concerned about Taiwan's elections, Chen said that Washington has also said openly or privately that it maintains a neutral position rather than giving any impression of interfering with the island's elections.

    It is believed that whoever wins the election, the United States will be ready to deal with the result, the representative said, adding that he has an impression through his contacts in the U.S. government that Washington favors Taiwan's democracy and will make a positive statement regarding the island's democracy after the election.

    Chen further said that the United States is not expected to talk much about Taiwan's referendum before March 20 and that between March 20 and May 20 -- the inauguration day for the newly elected president -- Washington will pay proper heed to Taiwan's situation.

    Responding to a question regarding the possibility of a visit to the United States by "pan-blue alliance" candidate Lien Chan if he wins the presidency, Chen said that it would be better for the U.S. government to reply to such a hypothetical question. Lien said recently that he would like to visit the United States to rebuild confidence between the two countries if he is elected president.

    In response to questions about whether he is worried that Beijing's opposition to the referendum might prompt a cross-Taiwan Strait crisis before March 20, the envoy said that naturally, the referendum has prompted concern on the part of mainland China, the United States and even Taiwan itself when the issue was raised by President Chen Shui-bian.

    Nevertheless, he also pointed out that explanations about the contents of the referendum, as well as Taiwan leaders' expressions of their clear positions regarding the issue, have reduced those concerns and he predicted that the cross-strait status quo will not change before the election.

(By Jorge Liu and P.C. Tang)

ENDITEM/J