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Taiwan expects sound ties with U.S. under Obama administration

ROC Central News Agency

London, Dec. 2 (CNA) Relations between Taiwan and the United States should remain sound under the new administration of U.S. President-elect Barack Obama as Taipei continues to try to rebuild mutual trust between the two sides, a high-ranking Taiwan official said in London Tuesday.

Expressing optimism over the future development of Taiwan-U.S. relations, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrew Li-yan Hsia said he believes "it will not be too difficult" to restore the frienship that was broken by the former Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) administration, citing improving relations between Taipei and Washington since President Ma Ying-jeou was inaugurated six months ago.

In his keynote speech at the Royal United Services Institue for Defence and Securities in London, Hsia contrasted the approaches of Ma's administration and the previous DPP government.

During the eight-year DPP administration, he argued, Taiwan followed a diplomatic policy that emphasized the country's sovereignty and highlighted its presence in the international community using extreme methods, without regard for the economic and military prowess of China.

Such an approach was unsuccessful in achieving Taiwan's goal for membership in the United Nations and World Health Organization, and instead cost the country the support of international friends, Hsia contended.

The number of Taiwan's diplomatic allies fell from 29 to 23 during those eight years, and the country was labeled a "troublemaker," he said.

Since his May 20 inauguration, President Ma has been working to improve Taiwan's ties with China and engage in foreign relations using a pragmatic approach, Hsia said.

With Taiwan-China dialogue resuming in June and a second round of talks following in November, the two sides have signed several agreements to pave the way for direct cross-Taiwan Strait transport and postal links and improved food safety, he said.

Hsia told his audience that Ma's foreign policy is aimed at turning Taiwan into a "peacemaker" and preventing Taiwan and China from wasting resources on unnecessary diplomatic competition.

Under such a policy, Ma advocates expanding Taiwan's international participation while maintaining the status quo in which Taiwan has 23 diplomatic allies and China has 171, he said.

Stressing that it is very important for Taiwan to enjoy a reasonable presence in the international community, Hsia warned that if Beijing continues to suppress Taiwan's bids to participate in international organizations, it will fuel anti-China sentiment among Taiwan's people. (By Jennifer Huang and Y.F. Low) ENDITEM/ls