KMT presidential candidate Chu starts US visit

2015/11/11

The ROC’s ruling Kuomintang Chairman Eric Chu embarked Nov. 10 on a seven-day visit to the U.S., with stops planned in Los Angeles, Washington, New York and San Francisco.

During his stay, Chu is expected to exchange views with U.S. officials on such issues as bilateral ties, cross-strait policy, East Asian peace and regional economics, according to Lin Yi-hua, head of the KMT’s Culture and Communications Committee.

“The chairman will take this opportunity to strengthen the KMT’s relationship with its staunch U.S. allies, building on robust two-way interactions over the years,” Lin said. “He will also extend gratitude to local expatriate groups for their support of his presidential bid.”

Highlights of Chu’s trip include a discussion Nov. 13 at Washington-based think tank Brookings Institution, as well as an interview with The Washington Post the same day. These are in addition to a welcome party Nov. 12 hosted by Shen Lyu-shun, the ROC’s representative to the U.S., at the historic Twin Oaks Estate.

While in New York, Chu is scheduled to meet with nongovernmental organization National Committee on American Foreign Policy and give an interview with the Voice of America Nov. 14.

The visit is Chu’s first to the U.S. as the KMT chairman and presidential candidate. He replaced Legislative Yuan Vice President Hung Hsiu-chu as the party’s new nominee by winning the support of the majority of delegates at a special congress Oct. 17 in Taipei City.

Chu pledged in his acceptance speech to unify the KMT, which suffered a major defeat in last year’s nine-in-one local elections, and lead the party to victory in next January’s presidential and legislative races. He is up against Tsai Ing-wen of the opposition Democratic Progressive Party and James Soong of the People First Party.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=238703&ctNode=2194&mp=9)