May 21, 2001 





Taiwan Leader Begins Historic Trip



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Filed at 7:18 a.m. ET





TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) -- Taiwan's president started a two-week tour Monday that begins 

in New York -- a historic stopover for a Taiwanese leader and one that threatens to

 enflame already bruised U.S.-China relations.



For decades, China has put extreme pressure on the United States not to allow Taiwanese 

presidents to visit New York, arguing that such a trip would bestow legitimacy on Taiwan's

 government. Since the rivals split amid civil war about 50 years ago, Beijing has insisted

 that it's the island's real ruler.



But the Taiwan-friendly government of George W. Bush decided to break tradition and allow

 President Chen Shui-bian to visit New York from Monday to Wednesday before he travels to

 Latin America. Chen will be the first sitting Taiwan president to visit the city -- home

 to the United Nations and arguably the world's financial and media capital.



The stopover is unofficial, and 50-year-old Chen is not expected to hold any news conferences

 or public events. But the wonkish, former attorney is being allowed an unprecedented amount

 of freedom to move around and meet people. He's expected to see Congress members and New 

York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani. He also plans to tour Wall Street and the Metropolitan Museum

 of Art.



Last year, during a transit stop in Los Angeles, Chen was mostly confined to his hotel, and

 the Clinton administration discouraged members of Congress from visiting him.



Most Taiwanese considered it to be humiliating treatment for a democratically elected leader

 of one of the most pro-American governments in Asia. Taiwan is also a major trading partner

 with the United States.



But Beijing and critics of Taiwan view Taiwanese leaders' efforts to visit America as attempts

 to get Washington more entangled in the decades-long feud between Taiwan and China. They say 

that Bush is making a mistake by approving Chen's New York stopover.



``It's a violation of a promise,'' said Xu Simin, publisher of the pro-China Mirror monthly

 magazine in Hong Kong.



Xu said that Washington has pledged that it would not recognize ``two Chinas,'' but that's

 what it is doing by welcoming a man who considers himself to be an official leader of the 

``Republic of China,'' Taiwan's official name. The ``Republic of China'' was founded on the 

mainland in 1912, but moved to Taiwan after the Communist Party took over China.



During a brief speech at the airport, Chen did not mention the controversy over his U.S. 

stopover and China's objections.



But he said it was important for him to make trips abroad. ``We should let the whole world

 see the Republic of China,'' he said.



Philip Yang, a political science professor at the elite National Taiwan University, thinks

 that Beijing will try to find a way to get even with Washington, although probably not 

immediately.



The professor also doubted that Chen would provoke China by saying or doing anything

 provocative in New York. He's struggling at home to inspire confidence in a slowing 

economy and doesn't want to create new problems, Yang said.



``He also wants to build up mutual trust between Taiwan and Washington,'' Yang said.



Chen plans to visit El Salvador, where he will attend a summit of Taiwan's Latin American 

allies. The leader will also visit Guatemala, Panama, Paraguay and Honduras. On his return, 

he will stop in Houston, Texas, on June 2-3.

Supporters of Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian wave 

Taiwanese and U.S. flags as he arrives in New York 

Monday, May 21, 2001. Chen's visit marks the first 

time Taiwan's leader has visited New York City. 

Shui Hui Lin a supporter of Taiwanese President Chen 

Shui-bian, waves a sign frombeneath Taiwanese banners 

as she awaits his arrival Monday, May 21, 2001, in New

York. Chen's visit marks the first time Taiwan's leader

has visited New York City. 

Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian waves acknowledging

supporters and protesters on New York's Park Avenue in 

New York, Monday, May 21, 2001. Chen's visit marks the

first time Taiwan's leader has visited New York City. 

Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian marks his first year in 

office by picking up litter in streets near the presidential

 residence in Taipei on May 20, 2001. Chen, whose popularity 

has been sagging, leaves on May 21 for a two-night stopover 

in New York en route to Latin America. 

On the day of his one year inaugural anniversary Taiwan's

 President Chen Shui-bian scrubs a car at a local car wash 

that employs disabled Taipei citizens Sunday, May 20, 2001, 

in Taipei. During his first year in office, Chen has struggled 

to please the powerful government opposition, stock investors 

and rival China. Many critics expected his first year to be

 rocky, but he has been praised by many, including Washington, 

by his prudence.