Chu: Visit aimed to make Washington better understand KMT’s US and cross-strait policies
Source: KMT News
November 12, 2015
KMT Chairman Eric Chu said on November 11 that his visit to the United States is aimed at giving Washington a better understanding of the role his party will play in promoting peaceful relations with mainland China, if the KMT wins the presidential election on January 16.
He said he will also assure Washington that the KMT will continue to cooperate with the US in promoting bilateral ties, trade and security.
He made the comments in a news conference shortly after he arrived in Los Angeles on November 10 (November 11 Taipei time) in the first leg of his weeklong visit that will also take him to Washington, New York, and San Francisco.
On the US-Taiwan-mainland China relations, Chu said such triangular ties are inter-related, and regardless of whether they are political or economic, they must be maintained in a steady manner.
About the impact of the November 7 summit between President Ma Ying-jeou and CCP General Secretary Xi Jinping in Singapore, Chu said the meeting – held for the first time in 66 years – was of even more significance than a single election. He said the summit not only represents a milestone in development of cross-strait relations, but also shows that peaceful development of such relations has created a win-win situation for the two sides, and has sharply reduced bilateral hostility and increased cross-strait trust.
Regarding the chances of his presidential bid, Chu said it is highly important for the party to unite. Since October 17, he has visited most parts of Taiwan to call for public support and party unity.
He said he will also use his brief visit to solicit support from Taiwanese expatriates in the United States.
Before the news conference, Chu met with Ed Royce, chairman of House Foreign Relations Committee; Judy May Chu, a Democrat member of the US House of Representative (California), and Michael Antonovich, the most senior-serving member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. He exchanged views with them on Taiwan’s efforts to join international organizations, US-Taiwan economic relations, cross-strait ties, Ma-Xi summit and his presidential bid.
Some 700 Taiwanese expatriates rallied at the San Gabriel Hilton Hotel to stump for Chu, who later hosted a dinner party to brief them of the latest situation in Taiwan.
Chu told his supporters despite the short time as the election is coming in 67 days, he would do his best to fight in the race and as long as members of the party can unite, the KMT will be able to win the election in the end.
Chu and his delegation will head for Washington DC the following morning in US time.