President-elect's U.S. visit still being negotiated: spokesman
ROC Central News Agency
2008-04-02 12:52:53
Taipei, April 2 (CNA) The office of President-elect Ma Ying-jeou is still negotiating with the U.S. government over his request to visit the United States before his May 20 inauguration, one of Ma's aides said Wednesday.
The outcome of the negotiations will be made public as soon as the sides come to a decision, said Ma's spokesman, Lo Chih-chiang.
Lo was responding to a report that Ma has withdrawn his request, which has created a dilemma for Washington because it would like to see better relations with Taipei but may worry about irritating China by allowing a visit by Taiwan's president-elect.
Douglas Paal, former director of the American Institute in Taiwan's (AIT's) Taipei Office, told the Central News Agency Tuesday in Washington D.C. that it would be very difficult for Ma to have his wish fulfilled because the administration of President George W. Bush has its own concerns.
Paal said he heard that Ma had retracted his visit request, but added that the information had not been verified.
Ma raised the possibility of visiting the United States before he is sworn in during a meeting with incumbent AIT Taipei Office Director Stephen Young last week.
Over the past few days, there have been reports that Washington has rejected Ma's request.
During his visit to Taiwan last week, AIT Chairman Raymond Burghardt reportedly complained that the United States had been caught unprepared by Ma's unexpected move.
(By Y.F. Low and Jorge Liu)
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