《白樂崎專欄》北京與華府都須保持中立◎白樂崎（2012.01.02）
最近突然有這麼多美國官員造訪台灣，的確有點奇怪。幾個星期前，美國能源部副部長伯納曼（Daniel B.
Poneman）造訪；再更之前的一週，來的則是美國國際開發總署署長拉吉夫．沙赫（Rajiv Shah）。而去年九月時美國商務部助理部長庫馬爾（Suresh Kumar）曾訪問台灣。去年稍早，美國住宅與都市發展部助理部長安利葵（Sandra B.
Henriquez）女士也曾短暫拜訪。
有位觀察家表示，過去三個月美國高級官員造訪台灣的次數，比過去三年還多。美國國會一再呼籲美政府多加關注台灣，多與台灣對話交流，難道是歐巴馬政府突然對國會的要求做出回應？
或許真是如此，但有評論家擔心，歐巴馬政府是暗中為本月舉行的台灣總統大選選邊站；派高階官員一個接著一個造訪台灣，則是不當地對目前台北的執政者展現偏好。這樣的做法，的確違背美國公開表明過的政策。
十月在眾議院一場外交事務委員會聽證會中，國務院東亞和太平洋事務局助理國務卿坎貝爾表示，「我們身為美國人，對這場選舉的過程感到興奮，因為它強調了我們和台灣人共享的一個核心價值。我們認為，在台灣沒有任何單一政黨或單一領導人，可以壟斷對於台美關係的有效經營。我們也不會在這些選舉中支持任何一方。我們會與經過台灣自由與平等的選舉所選出的任何一位領袖密切合作，建立我們對台灣人民、台灣繁榮與和平的長久承諾。」
還有其他事項，美方必須非常注意時間點，其中之一就是美國簽證的免簽證計畫。美國國務院最近才將台灣提名為免簽證候選國。
儘管免簽證的優待在台灣受到廣大支持，但如果美國國務院能等到選後再宣布其決定，做法就更高明，也不會給人選邊站的印象。
然而，美國保持中立，並不代表就要袖手旁觀，而是代表華府必須密切注意，確保台灣人民享有自由而公平的選舉。而這方面就有來自台灣內部和中國的兩大挑戰。
台灣所有政黨必須努力確保有公平的競爭環境。台灣民主要茁壯，台灣人就要針對真正急迫的議題進行文明辯論，這些議題包括工作、所得分配、能源安全、住宅政策、環境，以及兩岸關係。在這樣的選戰中，抹黑或濫用司法皆不該出現。
不過，也很重要的一點是，中國要開始尊重台灣人的心聲和決定。台灣有民主，就代表不管是在現在或未來，政權更迭都有可能發生。北京當局越早習慣這樣的思維越好。
（作者白樂崎先生曾任美國駐波札那大使與美國在台協會理事主席，現為本報團顧問，本文僅代表作者個人觀點／國際新聞中心陳維真譯）
有位觀察家表示，過去三個月美國高級官員造訪台灣的次數，比過去三年還多。美國國會一再呼籲美政府多加關注台灣，多與台灣對話交流，難道是歐巴馬政府突然對國會的要求做出回應？
或許真是如此，但有評論家擔心，歐巴馬政府是暗中為本月舉行的台灣總統大選選邊站；派高階官員一個接著一個造訪台灣，則是不當地對目前台北的執政者展現偏好。這樣的做法，的確違背美國公開表明過的政策。
十月在眾議院一場外交事務委員會聽證會中，國務院東亞和太平洋事務局助理國務卿坎貝爾表示，「我們身為美國人，對這場選舉的過程感到興奮，因為它強調了我們和台灣人共享的一個核心價值。我們認為，在台灣沒有任何單一政黨或單一領導人，可以壟斷對於台美關係的有效經營。我們也不會在這些選舉中支持任何一方。我們會與經過台灣自由與平等的選舉所選出的任何一位領袖密切合作，建立我們對台灣人民、台灣繁榮與和平的長久承諾。」
還有其他事項，美方必須非常注意時間點，其中之一就是美國簽證的免簽證計畫。美國國務院最近才將台灣提名為免簽證候選國。
儘管免簽證的優待在台灣受到廣大支持，但如果美國國務院能等到選後再宣布其決定，做法就更高明，也不會給人選邊站的印象。
然而，美國保持中立，並不代表就要袖手旁觀，而是代表華府必須密切注意，確保台灣人民享有自由而公平的選舉。而這方面就有來自台灣內部和中國的兩大挑戰。
台灣所有政黨必須努力確保有公平的競爭環境。台灣民主要茁壯，台灣人就要針對真正急迫的議題進行文明辯論，這些議題包括工作、所得分配、能源安全、住宅政策、環境，以及兩岸關係。在這樣的選戰中，抹黑或濫用司法皆不該出現。
不過，也很重要的一點是，中國要開始尊重台灣人的心聲和決定。台灣有民主，就代表不管是在現在或未來，政權更迭都有可能發生。北京當局越早習慣這樣的思維越好。
（作者白樂崎先生曾任美國駐波札那大使與美國在台協會理事主席，現為本報團顧問，本文僅代表作者個人觀點／國際新聞中心陳維真譯）
Charges of US
bias as Taiwan election nears◎AP（2012.01.01）
TAIPEI, Taiwan
(AP) — Washington has been lavishing attention on
Taiwan, stepping up
official visits and saying it will likely allow visa-free travel to the U.S. The moves are
raising suspicions that America is trying to influence a tight presidential
election here in January.
President Ma
Ying-jeou has seized on Washington 's
favors, touting them
as reasons voters should re-elect him. The Taipei Times, which supports his
main opponent, Tsai Ing-wen, said in an editorial: "Foolhardy or
malicious, inadvertent or by design, the U.S. has taken sides in next month's
elections."
The U.S. denies doing so, but Tamkang University political scientistEdward Chen
While the U.S. has influenced Taiwan's politics since it stationed military forces on the island during the Cold War,Washington has generally kept aloof in
presidential elections.
The de facto American embassy in Taipei said that Washington remains neutral this time too, wanting to see a free and fair vote in one of Asia's most dynamic democracies. "The United States does not interfere in foreign elections," saidSheila
Paskman
The U.S. denies doing so, but Tamkang University political scientist
While the U.S. has influenced Taiwan's politics since it stationed military forces on the island during the Cold War,
The de facto American embassy in Taipei said that Washington remains neutral this time too, wanting to see a free and fair vote in one of Asia's most dynamic democracies. "The United States does not interfere in foreign elections," said
Whether or not Washington intended to boost Ma, its recent moves have
reinforced perceptions that the U.S. sees its interests better served by him.
Ma has made his signature policy the tying of Taiwan's high-tech economy ever closer to China's lucrative markets. Beijing, which claims the island as its own, has been delighted, muting past threats of military force.
The result has been to ease tensions across the 100-mile- (160-kilometer-) wide Taiwan Strait to their lowest level since China and Taiwan split amid civil war in 1949. That reduces the chances that the U.S. would be embroiled in a conflict at a time when it is trying to repair its economy, steady relations with Beijing and re-engage in East Asia after a decade of preoccupation with Iraq and Afghanistan.
By contrast, Tsai's Democratic Progressive Party supports formal independence from China, as opposed to the de facto independence Taiwan has now. Her predecessor as party leader, Chen Shui-bian, frequently angered Beijing — and gave America fits — when he was president from 2000-2008. Though Tsai has backed away from his brinksmanship with China, she has never publicly renounced independence.
There is "no doubt in my mind that Washington would be more comfortable with a Ma win," international relations specialist Arthur Waldron of the University of Pennsylvania wrote in an email." One of the traditional and overwrought fears in D.C. is that a DPP administration will come in and 'make trouble.'"
Polls show a very tight race. Though Ma holds a slight edge, a surge by third-party candidateJames
Soong
Ma has campaigned as the candidate most capable of building ties with China without sacrificing Taiwan's close links with the United States, still its most important partner 33 years afterWashington transferred its recognition from Taipei to
Beijing as the government of China.
The U.S. is legally obligated to provide Taiwan with weapons to defend itself against a possible Chinese attack and maintains a large commercial presence on the island, with $20 billion in investments.
With many Taiwanese visiting the U.S. frequently, visa-free travel would be a popular move. After the American Institute announced that the program could begin soon if a U.S. investigation finds no problems with Taiwan's security procedures, Ma called it "a major diplomatic breakthrough" that raises Taiwan-U.S. relations to their highest point in 30 years.
Earlier this month the head of the U.S. Agency for International Development and the deputy energy secretary made visits to Taiwan that were heavily publicized by the American Institute. Such visits have been rare in recent years, to prevent China from charging thatWashington is reneging on
its recognition of Beijing.
Tsai and her campaign have minimized criticism, fearing that a tiff withWashington would cost her votes. She traveled to Washington in September to meet with officials and try to
set them at ease about her leadership.
Amid that outreach, the Financial Times quoted an unnamed U.S. official as saying that Tsai had created doubts about her ability to maintain stable China-Taiwan relations — a statement that caused a firestorm in the Taiwanese media, which saw it as evidence of U.S. meddling.
Ultimately, analysts say what's at stake is the best way for a small, democratic island to coexist with a powerful China.
"Washington is
intervening quietly in Taiwan's elections," said June Teufel
Dreyer
Ma has made his signature policy the tying of Taiwan's high-tech economy ever closer to China's lucrative markets. Beijing, which claims the island as its own, has been delighted, muting past threats of military force.
The result has been to ease tensions across the 100-mile- (160-kilometer-) wide Taiwan Strait to their lowest level since China and Taiwan split amid civil war in 1949. That reduces the chances that the U.S. would be embroiled in a conflict at a time when it is trying to repair its economy, steady relations with Beijing and re-engage in East Asia after a decade of preoccupation with Iraq and Afghanistan.
By contrast, Tsai's Democratic Progressive Party supports formal independence from China, as opposed to the de facto independence Taiwan has now. Her predecessor as party leader, Chen Shui-bian, frequently angered Beijing — and gave America fits — when he was president from 2000-2008. Though Tsai has backed away from his brinksmanship with China, she has never publicly renounced independence.
There is "no doubt in my mind that Washington would be more comfortable with a Ma win," international relations specialist Arthur Waldron of the University of Pennsylvania wrote in an email." One of the traditional and overwrought fears in D.C. is that a DPP administration will come in and 'make trouble.'"
Polls show a very tight race. Though Ma holds a slight edge, a surge by third-party candidate
Ma has campaigned as the candidate most capable of building ties with China without sacrificing Taiwan's close links with the United States, still its most important partner 33 years after
The U.S. is legally obligated to provide Taiwan with weapons to defend itself against a possible Chinese attack and maintains a large commercial presence on the island, with $20 billion in investments.
With many Taiwanese visiting the U.S. frequently, visa-free travel would be a popular move. After the American Institute announced that the program could begin soon if a U.S. investigation finds no problems with Taiwan's security procedures, Ma called it "a major diplomatic breakthrough" that raises Taiwan-U.S. relations to their highest point in 30 years.
Earlier this month the head of the U.S. Agency for International Development and the deputy energy secretary made visits to Taiwan that were heavily publicized by the American Institute. Such visits have been rare in recent years, to prevent China from charging that
Tsai and her campaign have minimized criticism, fearing that a tiff with
Amid that outreach, the Financial Times quoted an unnamed U.S. official as saying that Tsai had created doubts about her ability to maintain stable China-Taiwan relations — a statement that caused a firestorm in the Taiwanese media, which saw it as evidence of U.S. meddling.
Ultimately, analysts say what's at stake is the best way for a small, democratic island to coexist with a powerful China.
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