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WASHINGTON : Fresh from victory as Taiwan's new president, Ma Ying-jeou, has posed what may be a dilemma to the United States - by requesting to make a trip to Washington, which may earn the fury of China if allowed.
US President George W. Bush was among the first to congratulate Ma, seen as a moderate on the China question than outgoing, independence-leading president Chen Shui-bian, whose rule roiled ties with both Beijing and Washington.
But allowing the Harvard-educated lawyer Ma to visit Washington could anger Beijing even though he said he planned to come before his May 20 inauguration, said Brad Glosserman of Pacific Forum, a Hawaii-based think tank.
"Slim and none are the chances of that (trip)," Glosserman said. "It's very clearly an attempt by the president-elect of Taiwan to raise his political profile," he said.
The United States, he added, would not risk angering China, especially at a time when Beijing was grappling with a bloody revolt in Tibet.
Washington adheres to a one-China policy ever since it switched diplomatic recognition in 1979 from Taiwan to China.
Beijing considers the self-governed Taiwan part of its territory and frowns on any visits by its leaders that might imply Taiwanese sovereignty.
As predicted, the US State Department reacted with extreme caution to Ma's request to make the trip, which he reportedly conveyed to the de facto US envoy in Taipei Stephen Young.
Department spokesman Sean McCormack said succinctly, "I don't have any information concerning his travel plans.
"You might check with his office about those," he said.
China opposes any foreign visits by top government officials from Taiwan, which Beijing views as rebel territory and has threatened to retake it by force if it were to formally declare independence.
Beijing unilaterally broke off scheduled rapprochement talks with Taipei in 1995 to protest the landmark visit to the United States by Taiwan's then president Lee Teng-hui, saying it was a move promoting independence.
But two former state department officials said Ma's visit should be welcomed by the Bush administration, especially as he had gone out of his way to reassure Washington he would be different from incumbent president Chen and that he would coordinate closely with US on Taiwan relations with China.
"I think it's a very good idea - would like to see it happen," said Randy Schriver, a top official on East Asian policy during the first term of the Bush administration.
John Tkacik, once the chief of China analysis in the State Department's bureau of intelligence and research, said he felt Ma's trip would not anger China.
"No, I really do not think so," he said.
"I think China is very pleased with the election of Ma and (Vice President-elect) Vincent Siew and as long as they come before the inauguration and they still have colour of 'unofficiality,' then I think China would put up with it," he said.
Tkacik said that Ma ought to bring Siew, one of Taiwan's top trade and economics experts, because "there are a whole host of trade and financial issues that impacted both Taiwan and China and it would be very useful to have a sense of how he sees the future of Asia's economy."
Chen had earned the ire of both Beijing and Washington for his string of controversial policies, especially his failed referendum alongside the presidential polls on whether the island should seek UN membership under the name of Taiwan.
Taiwan, under its official name the Republic of China, lost its UN seat to the mainland in 1971 and is now only recognised diplomatically by around 20 countries.
Beijing considers attempts to rejoin the UN using its official title as pushing for independence. - AFP/ch
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