Washington Sep 16 - First lady Wu Shu-chen's planned trip to the United States will be the first by a Republic of China president's wife since Taiwan's democratization, ROC chief diplomat in Washington said Friday.

Chen Chien-jen, the ROC representative to the United States, said Wu would be the first ROC first lady to visit the United State since 1943 when Madame Chiang Kai-shek was in Washington, D.C. During that visit, Madame Chiang Kai-shek gave a speech before the U.S. Congress Feb. 18, 1943.

He said the United States responded positively when Taipei came up with the plan in May for Wu's trip and expressed a high level of respect for the first lady.

Wu has branded her U.S. trip a private visit and said she will keep a low profile on it.

Chen Chien-jen denied that Washington approved Wu's trip as a substitute for a possible U.S. trip by President Chen Shui-bian which would be certain to irritate Beijing.

"Wu's mission has its own significance and has nothing to do with President Chen's trip plans," the ROC representative said.

Wu is slated to arrive in New York Sept. 19 and then visit the U.S. capital between Sept. 22-25 before departing for Los Angeles Sept. 26 and returning to Taipei Sept. 28.

Although Chen Chien-jen's office has not arranged any meetings with U.S. officials for Wu, he said it will not be surprising if Wu is greeted by officials from President George Bush's administration in light of the close relations between the two countries.

Wu's schedule in Washington includes giving a speech at the American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research, attending a reception in her honor on Capitol Hill, visiting the Red Cross Society of the United States, and meeting with representatives of the local Chinese community.

Invitation letters for Wu's speech have already been issued by the American Enterprise Institute which has portrayed Wu as a veteran lawmaker, an activist for democracy and a political adviser to President Chen Shui-bian.

The Voice of America and Radio Free Asia have both asked for an interview with Wu during the visit, but no decision has been made thus far, Chen Chien-jen said.



BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific - Political
Supplied by BBC Worldwide Monitoring

September 14, 2002, Saturday

HEADLINE: Taiwan denies first lady's trip to USA substitute for visit by President Chen
SOURCE: Central News Agency web site, Taipei, in English 1112 gmt 14 Sep 02

Text of report by Jay Chen and Maubo Chang; carried in English by Taiwanese Central News Agency web site

Washington, 13 September: First lady Wu Shu-chen's planned trip to the United States will be the first by a Republic of China ROC president's wife since Taiwan's democratization, ROC chief diplomat in Washington said Friday 13 September .

Chen Chien-jen, the ROC representative to the United States, said Wu would be the first ROC first lady to visit the United State since 1943 when Madame Chiang Kai-shek was in Washington, D.C. During that visit, Madame Chiang Kai-shek gave a speech before the US Congress 18 February 1943.

He said the United States responded positively when Taipei came up with the plan in May for Wu's trip and expressed a high level of respect for the first lady.

Wu has branded her US trip a private visit and said she will keep a low profile on it.

Chen Chien-jen denied that Washington approved Wu's trip as a substitute for a possible US trip by President Chen Shui-bian which would be certain to irritate Beijing.

"Wu's mission has its own significance and has nothing to do with President Chen's trip plans," the ROC representative said.

Wu is slated to arrive in New York 19 September and then visit the US capital between 22-25 September before departing for Los Angeles 26 September and returning to Taipei 28 September.

Although Chen Chien-jen's office has not arranged any meetings with US officials for Wu, he said it will not be surprising if Wu is greeted by officials from President George Bush's administration in light of the close relations between the two countries.

Wu's schedule in Washington includes giving a speech at the American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research, attending a reception in her honour on Capitol Hill, visiting the Red Cross Society of the United States, and meeting with representatives of the local Chinese community.

Invitation letters for Wu's speech have already been issued by the American Enterprise Institute which has portrayed Wu as a veteran lawmaker, an activist for democracy and a political adviser to President Chen Shui-bian.

The Voice of America and Radio Free Asia have both asked for an interview with Wu during the visit, but no decision has been made thus far, Chen Chien-jen said.