Clinton, still on the payroll:
Chinagate
Former President Bill Clinton, never one to shy from a controversial issue or reaping a financial reward in pursuing it, will reportedly be paid $300,000 to address a conference in Sydney, Australia, later this month on the unification of Taiwan with mainland China.
And wouldn't you know, the February 20-23 conference — promoted by pro-unification forces in Taiwan and elsewhere — will be held at the very same time that President Bush is to visit Beijing, where he'll be seeking to promote Sino-American cooperation, even with the controversial issue of Taiwan in the background.
For China, bringing Taiwan under mainland rule is the cardinal issue of its foreign policy and the source of repeated disputes with the United States. Under President Chen Shui-bian, Taiwan has repeatedly rejected pressure by Beijing to accept the principle that there is only one China.
According to the China Times in Taipei, the money for Mr. Clinton's speaking engagement is being paid by William Chhiu, an Australian Chinese businessman who has dealings with Beijing as well as the United States.
washtimes.com |
