TAIPEI (XFN-ASIA) - Taiwan's president-elect Ma Ying-jeou has renewed his
vow of improving Taipei-US ties, which were frustrated by cross-strait tensions
under the outgoing pro-independence government.
The leader of the opposition Kuomintang (KMT), elected president in a
landslide victory on Saturday, told Washington's de facto ambassador in Taipei
that he hoped for better ties with the ally.
"I repeated what I had said during yesterday's press conference ... telling
him that we want to restore the trust with the United States," Ma said after his
private meeting with Stephen Young, Taipei office director of the American
Institute in Taiwan (AIT).
"They are very concerned about cross-strait ties ... I told him we want to
play the role of a peacemaker rather than a troublemaker," Ma told reporters,
referring to his earlier pledge of forging a peace agreement with China to end
hostilities.
US President George W. Bush has welcomed the victory of Ma as a "fresh
opportunity" for Taiwan and China to peacefully resolve their differences.
Ma also said he would like to visit Washington before his May 20
inauguration.
Beijing, however, opposes any foreign visits by top government officials
from Taiwan, which it sees as a part of its territory awaiting to be reunified
by force if necessary.
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