AIT head restates neutral poll stance, hints beef action may help TIFA

The comments came amid criticism from the local opposition against former AIT director Douglas Paal's pre-presidential election remarks on the “1992 Consensus” that were seen by many as an open endorsement of President Ma Ying-jeou's campaign.

“Taiwanese people made their decision (for president) based on many things,” said Burghardt. “I doubt (anything an) American has said had anything to do about how things turned out.”

Burghardt made the remarks in the Legislative Yuan in Taipei yesterday, when asked by reporters to comment on the Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) accusations against Paal.

The AIT chief was there to visit Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) as part of his ongoing tour in Taiwan.

During a television interview with a local cable news channel before the Jan. 14 presidential and legislative elections, Paal said the U.S. finds the possibility of the DPP ruling Taiwan threatening, and views DPP candidate Tsai Ing-wen's “Taiwan Consensus” as impractical.

Paal, who served as AIT director from 2002 to 2006, also said the “1992 Consensus” remains the best policy choice for Taiwan in the next four years.

The former official's remarks drew heavy criticism from the DPP.

The AIT also stressed that Paal made the remarks as a private citizen, and did not represent the official U.S. stance.

Beef Issue Remains to be Solved: Burghardt

Speaking of his trip, the AIT official said Washington and Taipei have had “excellent relationships” for the past four years during Ma's first term.

“Now Ma is beginning his second term, we want to continue that progress, and my visit this week is to get us off on the right foot,” he said.

He and Ma will discuss a wide range of trade issues, including U.S. beef, and the mutual Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) talks.

Washington reportedly suspended scheduled talks with Taiwan after the latter decided to remove some American beef products that were found to contain the locally banned animal feed additive ractopamine.

The U.S. had repeatedly urged Taiwan to accept a maximum residue limit for ractopamine instead of insisting on the zero-tolerance policy that it currently holds.

Asked about when he expected both sides could resume dialogue, Burghardt told the local media “that's something you have to ask your own officials.”

After an hourlong meeting with the top AIT official, legislative Speaker Wang said though Burghardt did not specifically point to the beef dispute as the main reason for the TIFA's suspension, they both knew it is the true cause for the long delay.

The U.S. side understood that in the run-up to the elections, the local government was not able to handle the sensitive U.S. beef import issue, Wang said, however he said American authorities also pointed out that the issue cannot be held off forever.

“It is the time to face the issue now after the elections,” he added.

Arriving in Taiwan last Sunday, Burghardt is expected to meet with President Ma Ying-jeou and several other major political and business figures, according to the AIT.

This is Burghardt's 12th trip to Taiwan since his appointment as AIT chairman in February 2006. He is slated to leave Taiwan on Feb. 2.

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