Chen Shui-bian Checks into St. Regis Hotel, Welcomed by the Protesters

My comment: It is not so important that the self-proclaimed Republic of China president passes through San Francisco, what is important is why America lets him pass through at this point in time. http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2007/01/09/2003343989 China slams US for allowing California stopover for Chen TRUE TO FORM: Beijing again charged that the real aim of Chen Shui-bian's transit stop in the US was to divide China and damage Sino-US ties AGENCIES, TAIPEI AND BEIJING Tuesday, Jan 09, 2007, Page 3 China accused President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) of trying to damage Sino-US ties with a stopover in California on the way to Central America yesterday and criticized Washington for authorizing the brief visit. Chen left for Nicaragua yesterday to attend the swearing-in ceremony of president-elect Daniel Ortega, stopping en route in San Francisco. Chen was scheduled to meet privately in San Francisco with Raymond Burghardt, chairman of the American Institute in Taiwan. Chen was to spend the night in San Francisco before flying on to Nicaragua today for Ortega's inauguration. China slammed the stopover. "The Chinese side opposes the United States and the Taiwan [sic] authorities having any form of official dealings," Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Liu Jianchao (劉建超) said in a statement on the ministry's Web site. "We express serious concern about related reports," Liu said, referring to Chen's California visit. "We have made serious representations to the US side." "What should be pointed out is that the real aim of Chen Shui-bian's `transit stop' in the United States is to carry out activities whose purpose is to split China and damage Sino-US relations," Liu added. Chen will also make a refueling stop in Los Angeles on Friday on his way back to Taiwan. Chen last year rebuffed the US' offer for stopovers in Alaska or Hawaii on the way to Latin America, after he was barred from high-profile transits in New York or San Francisco. Instead, he stopped in Abu Dhabi and Amsterdam en route to Latin America, and in the Dominican Republic and Libya on the way home, triggering criticism from the opposition that he had jeopardized ties with the US. However, Chen landed for several hours in the US territory of Guam last September during a South Pacific tour. A US official said Chen would simply "transit" this time. "We understand President Chen's activities will be private and unofficial, consistent with the purposes of a transit," an AIT spokesman said yesterday, referring to the San Francisco and Los Angeles stopovers. Nicaragua is one of Taiwan's 24 diplomatic allies. However, Ortega is a former pro-communist leader who broke with Taiwan and switched allegiance to China when he served as Nicaragua's president in the 1980s, leading some in Taiwan to fear he could do the same thing again when he retakes office. In his campaign for the November elections, Ortega vowed to recognize Beijing if elected and sever ties with Taiwan. But Chen's visit comes amid speculation that Nicaragua may maintain diplomatic ties with Taiwan in return for lucrative aid compensation. http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2007/01/08/18345130.php

San Francisco January 8, 2007

Many from the American Chinese community turned out in front of the St. Regis Hotel to greet Chen's VIP motorcade arrival to San Francisco today.

The turnout of Chen loyalists and opponents appeared equally divided. Supporters wore the green of Chen's DPP political party; opponents the traditional Chinese red.

One observer mentioned that Time Magazine recently did a story about the most corrupt leaders in the world and Chen ranked as the fifth most corrupt. Chen is also controversial because of his avowed desire to make Taiwan an independent country.

His opponents, composed of Taiwanese and mainland immigrants who wish to see the eventual reunification of Taiwan with the mainland drew the most attention from passerbys and the Chinese media with their cries denouncing Chen. They were especially critical of the corruption charges that Chen has been able to narrowly elude to date. Taiwan no longer has formal diplomatic ties with the United States. The People's Republic of China (PRC) has strongly protested Chen's ability to travel in the U.S. This has created little unease with the Bush administration which allows Chen to visit on occasion. That Chen should be one of a few government leaders to celebrate Daniel Ortega's inauguration draws attention to Taiwan's increasing isolation from the world community of nations. Daniel Ortega has indicated that he may break off formal ties with Taiwan (the Republic of China or ROC). The governments of Taiwan and Nicaragua have had a cozy relationship for years and Chen hopes to salvage it. George W. Bush's father's administration worked hard to institutionalize political, economic and military support for Taiwan in spite of transference of official recognition to the PRC. U.S. support today for Taiwan under his son may be less reliable however. Corporate interests are keen to make the most of the mainland's cheap labor and burgeoning market. They are also wary to placate the mainland whose growing economic reserves can be flexed to undermine an already shaky U.S. dollar. Also, critics of the Bush administration (including high-ranking generals and intelligence analysts) say that the U.S. military is now overextended and would have trouble responding to any new regional flashpoints. The U.S. must rely on the PRC to help deter North Korean aggression (even nuclear war) against South Korea. Chen's visit, while tolerated by the Bush administration, is an embarrassing reminder of neglected world tensions. Not only does it fuel divisions among Chinese Americans-- it also suggests that Chen must play every card in his deck-- or bluff-- to win approval wherever he can find it.