Republic of China in-exile President Ma Ying-jeou advocates 'One China' AP photo
Republic of China in-exile President Ma Ying-jeou held unannounced talks with eight powerful members of Congress in Los Angeles during a stopover visit to the United States on his trip to Central America.
Taiwan News broke the story, which was confirmed by Ma's spokesperson Wang Yu-chi who identified Ma's congressional contacts during the U.S. stopover. Ma met with some in person and talked with others on the phone.
The most prominent politician was the 2008 Republican presidential nominee, Senator John McCain of Arizona. The congressional callers were in sharp contrast to the silent treatment by President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton who snubbed Ma, bypassing the island on her recent Asian tour.
Members of Congress that spoke in person or by phone with Ma besides John McCain were Senator Max Baucus [D-MT], Senator Kit Bond [R-Mo], Representative Robert Wexler [D-FL], Representative Shelley Berkley [D-NV], Representative Chris Van Hollen [D-MD], Representative Howard Berman [D-CA], and David Dreier [R-CA].
Obama's silence on Taiwan follows a recent court decision where U.S. Circuit Judge Janice Rogers Brown declared the longstanding "strategic ambiguity" over Taiwan's unresolved national status to be "political purgatory" and urged Obama to act "expeditiously" to resolve the matter.
Meanwhile in Los Angeles, according KMT legislator Justin Chou, the topics of discussion were an extradition agreement between Taiwan and the United States, visa-free visits of Taiwanese tourists to America, the purchase of advanced F-16 jet fighters, and a free-trade agreement. Taiwan News further reported that members of Congress were interested in the status of cross-strait relations with the People's Republic of China, the Taiwan Relations Act, and the sale of American beef.
Ma's visit did spark protests with protestors declaring they were Taiwanese not Chinese.
One of the most outspoken members of Congress, Ed Royce [R-CA] apparently missed the hotel fete but did attend a banquet in Ma's honor the night before he departed Los Angeles. While none of the members of Congress mentioned Ma Ying-jeou on their official websites, Royce has written a snappy entry on North Korea on his "Political Intrigue" blog where he rejects a U.S.-China deal to contain North Korea.
![U.S. Senator John McCain [R-AZ] was the 2008 Republican presidential nominee (AP photo)](http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/hash/73/13/731313f99b7be869138c2cd5af871f6d.jpg "U.S. Senator John McCain [R-AZ] was the 2008 Republican presidential nominee (AP photo)")
Comments
None of these propsed measures are good for American taxpayers or Taiwanese people. Ma's regime is not legal in Taiwan, which is legally a US trusted land.
Ma's supporters are mainly Chinese Nationalists partisans who have moved to USA and lived on American people for free for a long time. Their wealth is bloody money soaked with Taiwanese blood. He cannot represent Taiwanese in general, 90% of people in Taiwan.
Chinese-Taipei's Ma goes to East!
Chinese-Taipei 's Ma goes to West!
Chinese-Taipei's Ma goes back to His Communist China " Nest"
I like the face that, in America, people can protest against Ma freely without the fear of being questioned by police.
Ma once promised that Taiwan will not "free-ride" on the U.S. for its own security.
He pointed out that "The delicate balance of the status quo is being shaken by the gross military imbalances across the (Taiwan) Strait."
On one side of his mouth Ma speaks to the defence of Taiwan while on the other side he sells out Taiwan to China.
We all know the PRC controls business.
Now the KMT is trying to allow a bid for 11 BOT ( build-operate-transfer) projects from PRC investors. These projects include airports, harbors, and tourist establishments.
This not only allows the PRC to control the economic door of Taiwan, but also undermines Taiwan's national security,"
Ma never denied that the one China policy really means bringing Taiwan under PRC control.
Dear Michael,
Do they ( 8 members of Congress )know that ROC is the government in exile in Taipei?
Do they ( 8 members of Congress )know that the island of Taiwan is under the control of USMG after WWII?
If not, they should come to study in your classroom for history lesson about the truth of Taiwan history after WWII.
Audrey, I do not know the extent of awareness by the members of Congress about the true history of Taiwan. It does seem to be time for congressional hearings to review the U.S. policy of 'political purgatory' for Taiwan in light of the silence on the matter from the Obama administration.
It does seem to be time for congressional hearings to review the U.S. policy of 'political purgatory' for Taiwan in light of the silence on the matter from the Obama administration.
===============================================
Dear Michael,
That's right.
I hope the time is coming soon.
Let's show some respect to the president of the Republic of China on (Taiwan). The KMT sweated to grow this country from a $150 per capita income in 1969 to a $35,000 per capita income nation in 2009.
Given this fact: the people do not have to work 19 hours a day and can have time to protest, listen to Ipod take vacations etc. in 2009. This is a impressive acomplishment.
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