Chen Shui-bian stopover in San Francisco stirs conflict in Chinese community

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.



Please direct correction, additional information and comments to this story below.

Some useful links:

Thumbs Down for Chen (Time/CNN)
http://tinyurl.com/yhg99w

At Least 13 Heads Of Government To Attend Ortega's Inauguration
http://tinyurl.com/yz3b9a

Chen Shui-bian (Wikipedia)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chen_Shui-bian

Daniel Ortega (Wikipedia)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Ortega

Million Voices against Corruption, President Chen Must Go (Wikipedia)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Million_Voices_against_Corruption,_President_Chen_Must_Go

Taiwan's Chen in corruption case (BBC)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6112668.stm

Taiwanese president arrives in San Francisco to cheers, protests (SFGate)
http://tinyurl.com/ymktyb