TAIWAN-U.S. RELATIONS 'GOOD': U.S. ENVOY
ROC Central News Agency
2006-03-20 23:28:01
Taipei, March 20 (CNA) The new U.S. representative to Taiwan said Monday that present relations between Taiwan and the United States are good, but also full of challenges.
Stephen M. Young, director of the American Institute in Taiwan's (AIT) Taipei office, made the remarks after paying a visit to Minister of Foreign Affairs Huang Chih-fang.
Young, who arrived in Taipei Saturday to assume his post, said the two countries must cooperate on tackling challenges to their bilateral relations.
Young said he will meet with President Chen Shui-bian Tuesday to discuss issues of mutual concern, including Taiwan's recent move to cease the functions of its National Unification Council (NUC).
Asked whether the NUC issue constituted a challenge to Taiwan-U.S. relations, Young said "opportunities have often come along with challenges" in Taiwan-U.S. relations.
For him, Young said, the NUC has been "put into abeyance."
This marked the first time that U.S. authorities has used the English term "abeyance" to describe the state of the NUC, which was created in 1990 by Taiwan's then pro-unification Kuomintang government to symbolize its ultimate goal of promoting unification across the Taiwan Strait.
President Chen's decision to cease the NUC's functions has caused U.S. concern because keeping the council formed an integral part of the "five noes" pledge Chen made in his 2000 inaugural address under the condition that "China has no intention to use force against Taiwan."
The U.S. State Department has recently expressed hope that Taiwan's authorities can further clarify the NUC issue.
(By Sofia Wu)
enditem/diG
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