U.S. won’t play mediator in cross-strait issue: AIT head

American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Chairman Raymond Burghardt made the remarks during a roundtable discussion organized with members of local media, following his successive meetings that morning with President Chen Shui-bian and President-elect Ma Ying-jeou.

Burghardt stressed that the U.S. has encouraged improved cross-strait interaction for years, but “Aside from those kinds of exhortations, I don’t think we’ve ever seen a direct U.S. role in terms of being a mediator, or to actually play any kind of role in the negotiation process.”

“In fact, we have for years taken the position that actually that [mediation] is not a role that we should play,” he added, while noting that despite tensions in Taiwan-U.S. relationships, there had been progress in cross-strait ties during Chen’s eight-year tenure, such as allowing limited cross-strait charter flights.

He explained that he expects even more progress in cross-strait ties under Ma’s leadership, “certainly in areas of trade and transportation.”

Regarding Chinese President Hu Jintao’s comment on Wednesday during a telephone conversation with U.S. President George W. Bush that the Taiwan Strait should resume dialogue on the basis of the ‘1992 Consensus,’ Burghardt said that “It is an issue between the two sides of the Strait.”

He noted that the problem is not whether Washington recognizes the aforementioned consensus. If both sides agree on a formula, “What is there for the U.S. to have an opinion about it?” he asked.

The 1992 Consensus refers to an agreement Beijing and Taipei supposedly reached in 1992, in which both parties agree that there is one China, even though they have their own interpretations of the meaning of China — the People’s Republic of China (PRC) for Beijing, the Republic of China (ROC) on Taiwan for Taipei.

“...if both sides are comfortable with that term,” he said.

The ruling Democratic Progressive Party, however, has always contended that the PRC and ROC governments never reached such an agreement or consensus in writing.

Further, the AIT chairman also said that President-elect Ma’s request to visit the United States was still under discussion in Washington.

“It [Ma’s request to visit] has been considered, discussed... and when there’s a decision, you’ll know,” he said.

He added that the names of possible envoys are also under discussion in the U.S. for attending Ma’s inauguration slated for mid-May, but it would be a surprise if Washington sends a delegation to Taiwan, as was the case in the 2000 and 2004 presidential inaugurations of President Chen.

“Sometimes it comes down to the availability of people,” Burghardt said, regarding whom the envoy will be.

The AIT chairman met with Chen, Ma and Vice President-elect Vincent Siew that day; he also is scheduled to meet with Foreign Minister James Huang and Taiwanese and American businesspeople during his 3-day visit.

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