WASHINGTON EXPECTS U.S.-TAIWAN TIES TO REMAIN UNCHANGED
ROC Central News Agency
2006-11-04 12:21:20
Washington, Nov. 3 (CNA) The United States expects its relations with Taiwan to continue as they are now despite the possible political ramifications deriving from an alleged corruption scandal involving ROC President Chen Shui-bian and his wife, a U.S. State Department official said Friday.
Stopping short of commenting on the issue directly on the grounds that it is an internal matter of Taiwan, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said: "We are confident that the matter will be dealt with according to the established constitution and laws."
Asked about the scenario of Chen stepping down over the alleged scandal and Vice President Annette Lu taking his place, McCormack said: "I'm not going to get into such matters. I expect that our relationship will continue as it is right now."
McCormack made the remarks during a daily press briefing in response to a question from reporters, in the wake of the indictment of Chen's wife, Wu Shu-jen, on charges of forgery and corruption after Taiwan prosecutors determined the first lady had used others' invoices to claim NT$14.8 million (US$450,000) from the state affairs fund between July 2002 and March 2006.
The president was named along with the first lady in the corruption charges, but he was not charged because of the judicial immunity that he enjoys as the head of state.
While the opposition and some private groups have been demanding that Chen resign to take responsibility for the suspected scandal over past several months, they are expected to step up pressure on the president to do so following Wu's indictment.
(By Chiehyu Lin and Y.F. Low)
ENDITEM/Li
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