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Politics : FREE AMERICA -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: michael97123 who wrote (5144)	5/3/2006 12:05:41 PM
From: Proud_Infidel	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 14758

This is distressing to say the least.....my guess it was done to secure China's cooperating on Iran. But VERY distressing nonetheless..... US decides on transit plan: source (President Bush Bans Taiwan President from Contiental US) Taipei Times ^ \| 5-3-06 \| Charles Snyder and Nadia Tsao taipeitimes.com US decides on transit plan: source BUSH APPROVAL: Chen Shui-bian will not be allowed to land in the continental US nor stay overnight, officials said, adding that the US president had made the decision By Charles Snyder and Nadia Tsao STAFF REPORTERS IN WASHINGTON Wednesday, May 03, 2006,Page 3 A US source said yesterday that US President George W. Bush will allow President Chen Shui-bian (???) to transit through the US on his way to and from Latin America. Bush authorized Chen to stop in Honolulu, Hawaii, on his way to Latin America, and in Anchorage, Alaska, on his return flight. However, Chen is only allowed to rest and refuel, and is not permitted to stay overnight in either city. The decision, which was proposed by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, was made by Bush himself, US and Taiwanese diplomatic sources said. Chen is scheduled to depart Taipei today for Paraguay. He will later visit Costa Rica for the inauguration of president-elect Oscar Arias before returning to Taipei May 11. The Chen administration is also understood to be shocked and displeased with Bush's reponse to its request, and has called for more negotiations on the matter. The US source said that the US Department of State and National Security Council presented Bush with a number of recommendations, and that the stopover itinerary that Bush ultimately decided on was the simplest among them. Meanwhile, a state department official confirmed that the US would allow Chen to make transit stops, but would not provide specifics. Close relations "In keeping with our close and cooperative informal relations with Taiwan and our intent to work productively with President Chen Shui-bian in the years ahead, the United States is prepared to facilitate transits for Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian on his way to and from Paraguay and Costa Rica," the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said. He said that the request was approved on the basis of the safety, comfort and convenience of Chen, "while respecting the dignity of the traveler." Meanwhile, Foreign Affairs Minister James Huang (???) yesterday ascribed the US' slowness in responding to Taiwan's request for Chen's stop-overs to Washington's preoccupation with Iran's nuclear program, with which the US needs China's support for a hardline approach towards Iran. Huang said the procrastination was also due to the recent visit to the US by Chinese President Hu Jintao (???). Taiwan filed the stopover requests with US officials April 21. "The US-Taiwan negotiations over the transit stops were greatly affected by Hu's visit to the US, which had squeezed out the working time for both Taiwan and the US authorities over the matter," Huang said. Chen had reportedly wanted to stop in New York City on his return trip next week. Chen has not visited the East Coast of the US since September 2003, when he traveled to New York to receive a human rights award and made several public statements despite the vehement objections of China. During that trip, his activities reportedly annoyed the Bush administration, which was then trying to improve relations with Beijing, after the then-chairwoman of the American Institute in Taiwan, Therese Shaheen, declared that Bush was "the guardian angel" of Chen's trip. Restricted In his first -- and only other -- trip to New York as president in 2001, Chen was more restricted, not being allowed to make any public statements, although he did give a speech to a large group of congress members, who chartered a military flight to travel from Washington to have dinner with him. Since those two New York stopovers, Chen has been limited to West Coast and Southwest cities, including Houston, the home of the then-House majority leader Tom DeLay, a prominent supporter of Taiwan. Additional reporting by Chang Yun-ping