U.S. urges Beijing to talk directly to Taipei

“The U.S. continues to believe that the PRC should talk directly with the elected representatives of the people in Taiwan to advance these matters,” American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) director Douglas Paal told the annual general meeting of the American Chamber of Commerce in Taipei in remarks that were later released to the press.

Paal said direct cross-strait flights and opening up Taiwan to Chinese tourists would bring important economic benefits for both sides.

“They will also help foster the kind of people-to-people contact that can strengthen regional stability,” Paal said.

Beijing usually shuns direct contact with the pro-independence government because it refuses to accept Beijing’s cherished “one China” principle. The U.S. gives diplomatic recognition to China but is legally bound to give Taiwan military assistance in the event of an unprovoked attack, according to the Taiwan Relations Act. The AIT acts as a U.S. mission here in the absence of formal diplomatic ties.

Taiwan and China recently agreed to set up direct flights for the Lunar New Year holiday period, after months of negotiations between private airline associations that were authorized to negotiate on behalf the two governments. A little earlier, China’s top tourism official Shao Qiwei visited scenic spots in Taiwan in a sign Beijing is interested in permitting floods of tourists to visit the island. Again, negotiations were made by authorized private tourist associations and there was no direct official contact between the two sides.

“We are encouraged by (these) signs of progress,” Paal said.

Paal’s comments also follow President George W. Bush’s tour of Asia, which included summit talks with China’s president Hu Jintao. Like Bush, Paal in his speech indicated U.S. policy towards Taiwan and China had not changed.

“A fragile calm prevails in the Strait of Taiwan and has endured against the odds allowing both sides to live in peace and prosper,” Paal said.

“We expect that no one unilaterally changes the status quo in cross-strait relations ... the United States’ one-China policy remains consistent, underwritten by Three Communiques and the Taiwan Relations Act,” he said.

U.S. urges Taiwan to lift beef ban

The U.S. mission head also lashed out at Taiwan for banning imports of American beef.

“There is simply no justification for continuing the ban on American beef and I assure you that we are fully engaged in working to have the ban lifted as soon as possible,” Paal said.

Paal said tariffs had been reduced since Taiwan’s WTO accession but there were many examples of non-tariff barriers or technical barriers to trade in Taiwan, such as the beef ban.

The government here banned beef imports after a mad cow disease scare. The U.S. government says it has since provided Taiwan with scientific evidence showing that its beef is safe.

“Taiwan authorities have publicly recognized that U.S. beef is safe, but have yet to take action,” Paal said.

“It is vital that Taiwan return to the principle of basing trade and market regulations on sound science in order for Taiwan to be viewed as a reliable trade partner,” Paal said.

Paal said Taiwan imported more than US$ 2 billion of U.S. agricultural products and urged the government to further liberalize their access to local markets.

He also said the U.S. hoped that Taiwan’s nascent media watchdog body, the National Communications Commission (NCC) would “avoid politicization that could negatively affect its ability to meet its goals.”

“In all places, the United States supports free and responsible media as a vital part of a healthy democracy,” Paal said.

The bill authorizing the formation of the NCC was stalled in the legislature for months, as political parties squabbled over whether its members should be hand picked by the government or chosen by both the government and opposition parties.

Paal’s remarks also came after the government fined cable television station TVBS NT$1 million and ordered it to change its financial structure. The government said it was doing this because TVBS was 100 percent foreign-owned in violation of Taiwan laws but critics said the government was punishing the station for exposing a government scandal, amounting to a crack down on press freedom.

Pointing out that the former chief of the Bureau of Pharmaceutical Affairs estimated that 25 percent of all medicines sold in Taiwan could be counterfeit, Paal said the AIT was encouraging the Ministry of Justice and Department of Health to solve the problem.

“Pharmaceutical piracy threatens not only the rights-holder but also the health of the Taiwan public,” Paal said.

Taiwanese interest in the U.S. as a place for tourism, education and business had not waned despite America’s heightened security measures and border controls. Taiwan visitors to the U.S. increased by five percent, Paal said.

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