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U.S. happy to see cross-strait warming, dialogue: AIT

ROC Central News Agency

Taipei, Nov. 12 (CNA) American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Director Stephen Young said in a press conference Wednesday that the United States is happy to see the warming of cross-Taiwan Strait ties and to see Chinese officials visiting Taiwan.

"We are glad to see the visit to Taiwan by Chen Yunlin, president of the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits, " said Young. "Some media in Taiwan have speculated that the United States is worried about the improvement of relations between Taiwan and mainland China. That is simply not true," he went on.

AIT held its biannual news conference Wednesday, attended by both local and international media.

"Even before Chen's arrival in Taiwan, the U.S. government had expressed optimism on his visit to Taiwan," Young noted. "The U.S. believes the signing of four agreements between Taiwan and mainland China will help regional stability and prosperity," he added.

Young pointed out that for many years, the U.S. government has pushed for peaceful dialogue between Beijing and Taipei. "Now that cross- strait dialogue has been realized, the United States is very happy," he said.

According to Young, as long as the cooperation between Taiwan and China is mutual and equal, and that the will of the people of Taiwan is taken into consideration, the U.S. government is happy to see any situation that will help improve cross-strait ties.

"We are sorry to see the violence that occurred during Chen's stay in Taiwan, " said Young, adding that "the U.S. government would also like to see more dialogue between the ruling and opposition parties of Taiwan."

Clashes erupted between pro-independence supporters and police following a Nov. 6 protest in Taipei over a Nov. 3-7 visit to Taiwan by Chen Yunlin, Beijing's top negotiator with Taiwan, during which he signed four agreements with his Taiwanese counterpart, Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) Chairman Chiang Pin-kung.

During the press conference, Young also pointed out that the U.S. government does not want to see Taiwan bullied into making any deals with China. Therefore, according to Young, the U.S. will continue to provide for the security needs of Taiwan. "This will give the Ma administration more confidence at the negotiating table with Beijing," Young said.

Young also said that a recent visit to the U.S. by Republic of China Minister of National Defense Chen Chao-min is a sign of close defense cooperation between the U.S. and Taiwan.

The AIT is a non-profit private corporation established shortly after Washington changed its diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing Jan. 1, 1979. It has since acted as a de facto embassy in Taipei in the asbence of formal diplomatic ties.

The warming of cross-strait ties began with the resumption of meetings between Chiang and Chen six months ago in Beijing. A more recent meeting between the two negotiators was held in Taipei last week.

The SEF and ARATS are quasi-official organizations responsible for handling cross-strait ties in the absence of official relations, and Chen and Chiang are expected to meet every six months, with the next meeting scheduled for Beijing. (By Andrew Lee) ENDITEM/J