Republic of China (Taiwan) 9–13 July 2002 state visit to the United States of America

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Republic of China (Taiwan) 9–13 July 2002 visit to the United States of America
Native name "就刑事司法互助等議題參訪美國司法部等有關機關及團體", Identification number "C09103647" in the Report archives of the Executive Yuan.
Date9–13 July 2002
Location
Cause See also: § Lead-up.
WebsiteReport archives of the Executive Yuan (in Chinese)

The Taiwanese 9–13 July 2002 visit to the United States of America involved discussing bilateral cooperation in law enforcement. The visit was headed by Chen Ding-nan, the Taiwanese Minister of Justice, with the highlight being the reception by his American counterpart John Ashcroft, Attorney General of the United States of America in the afternoon of 12 July 2002 local time (early morning of 13 July in Taipei time).[1][2] Because of this visit, Chen became Taiwan's first government official after 1979 (when the United States cut its official diplomatic relations with Taiwan) to be invited into the White House.[3]

Meetings and visits[edit]

Other than with John Ashcroft, Chen met with ranking officials from the United States Department of Justice (such as the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation) and the United States Department of the Treasury (such as the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network), in order to discuss cooperation with regards to the legislation surrounding crime, in particular drug trafficking, commercial piracy, and global terrorism.

The visit included meetings with members of the United States House of Representatives such as congressmen Jim Sensenbrenner, Representative for the Fifth Congressional District of Wisconsin (at that time also chairman of the House Judiciary Committee) and John Conyers, Representative for the Thirteenth Congressional District of Michigan.

Other than visiting Washington, D.C., Chen visited Harvard University and Yale University and observed local community service programs for criminals and private prisons in New York City, Boston, and the City of Los Angeles.[2]

Headed by Chen, the Taiwanese delegation also included the director of the Ministry of Justice's Prosecutorial Affairs Department Tsai Pi-yu, counselor to the Ministry of Justice Chang Tse-wei[1] and Kuo Shih-sung, director of the Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau.[4]

The meetings were described to have been friendly and with active cooperation. The trip was described as successful, positive, and constructive by media and observers.[5][1]

Lead-up[edit]

The lead-up to the visit was the Agreement on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters between Taiwan and the United States on 26 March 2002, the first judicial agreement signed between the countries, laying legal foundations for cooperation in crime investigation matters.[2]

Reportedly, the lead up for the Agreement was the September 11 attacks, after which the United States Government wanted to take precautionary measures against terrorism, for which it asked for support from numerous countries, including Taiwan.[3]

Low-key visit due to the People's Republic of China's influence[edit]

It was claimed that, since Chen was a Minister of the Government of Taiwan, his visit to Washington and other cities of the United States of America would give rise to protest by the Chinese government and would impact the trilateral relations between the United States, the People's Republic of China and Taiwan. As far as media go, the trip had been characterized as a low-key visit, with neither media in Taiwan nor overseas announcing it loudly. The Chinese channel of the Voice of America cited Manfred Peng (Deputy Head of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States at that time) who claimed that it was not communicated whether or not Chen would meet senior officials during this visit, due to the "special relationship" between Taiwan and the United States by which, so he said, situations are generally not disclosed in advance.[6] A Taiwanese newspaper also reported of such uncertainty, linking the unsureness of being able to meet Ashcroft in relation to the gazing eyes of the People's Republic of China upon the trip.[5] A documentary about Minister Chen details that, from the start, Minister Chen made it clear to the United States Government that he wanted to meet his counterpart, the Attorney General. Until the day before the meeting, it was reportedly unsure if Chen would be able to meet him, being told that the highest official the delegation would be able to meet would be the Deputy Attorney General. Finally the meeting with the Attorney General did occur.[3]

While in the United States during his trip, Chen went to the Chinese Department of the Voice of America and was interviewed during its live-broadcast program called "時事大家談" (pinyin: shíshì dàjiā tán).[6]

Chen's comments about media in Taiwan[edit]

While answering questions from reporters in Washington, Chen accused the Taiwanese media of not striving for balanced reporting, illustrated by the reluctance of printing corrections and readers' letters, as well as of being immature, irresponsible, of breaching personal privacy and minimum levels of decency and respect. This lashing out created headlines in the Taiwanese media, reportedly overshadowing the coverage of the fact that he had been the first government official to be invited into the White House in twenty-three years.[7][8]

Abolition of the death penalty in Taiwan[edit]

One item which was communicated through local Taiwanese newspaper is that, during his visit, Ashcroft announced that Chen had made a policy statement of moving towards abolishing the death penalty but that, because most people in Taiwan at that time disapproved such an abolishment, it would, so he stated, occur as a phased approach, starting with the amending of the mandatory death penalty (Chinese: 絕對唯一死刑; pinyin: juéduì wéiyī sǐxíng).[9]

Images of the visit
  • Chen Ding-nan, Minister of Justice of the Republic of China (Taiwan) delivering a speech in front of a lectern holding the logo of "The National Association of Attorneys General" (NAAG), during his visit lasting from 9–13 July 2002.
    Chen Ding-nan, Minister of Justice of the Republic of China (Taiwan) delivering a speech in front of a lectern holding the logo of "The National Association of Attorneys General" (NAAG), during his visit lasting from 9–13 July 2002.
From the archives of the "Chen Ding-Nan Education Foundation" (Chinese: 財團法人陳定南教育基金會)

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c H. Deng, Daniel (14 July 2002). "法務部陳部長一行訪問美國司法部部長". Law Office of Daniel H. Deng. Retrieved 22 November 2017. 法務部陳部長率同檢察司司長蔡碧玉、參事張紫薇於美東時間二○○二年七月十二日下午三時三十分許(台北時間七月十三日星期六凌晨三時三十分)由駐美代表處程代表建人陪同訪問美國司法部，由司法部部長約翰‧艾許克羅(John Ashcroft)親自接待，雙方會談約四十分鐘，分別針對九一一後反恐怖主義問題、台美簽署刑事司法互助協定後之合作打擊毒品及洗錢犯罪問題及智慧財產權保護等問題廣泛交換意見，同時對於陳部長所提擬自明年起選派檢察官赴耶魯及哈佛大學法學院進修，並希望透過美國司法部協助至聯邦檢察官辦公室或相關司法機關觀摩學習一事，亦獲美國司法部長之積極回應，會談氣氛熱絡融洽，雙方均表達極友好以及積極建立合作關係之態度。為一積極建設性之會面。
  2. ^ a b c "Justice Minister Chen Ding-nan Visits Washington, D.C." (Press release). Washington, D.C.: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of China (Taiwan). Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States. 15 July 2002. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
  3. ^ a b c 陳定南的故事：青天典範 - 龜毛之必要 [The Story of Chen Ding-Nan: The Need to be Nitpicky] (Audio-visual documentary with subtitles) (in Taiwanese Hokkien, English, and Traditional Chinese). Yilan: 財團法人陳定南教育基金會 (Chen Ding-Nan Education Foundation). 29 September 2016. Event occurs at 59:05. Retrieved 22 November 2017. In 2002, Taiwan and the US signed a Judicial Mutual Assistance Agreement. Chen Ding-nan became Taiwan's first government official since the US cut diplomatic relations in 1979, to be invited to visit the White House. The process of signing the agreement was actually very dramatic. The US was dealing with the September 11th attacks and taking precautionary measures against terrorism. The country needed support from many countries, including Taiwan. Minister Chen invited a US diplomatic representative in Taiwan to his office. He then told him,"I want to go to the states to discuss matters regarding judicial mutual assistance." From the very beginning he declared that he wanted to go to the White House and meet the US Attorney General, who at the time was John Ashcroft. You know, at the time, Taiwan and the US did not have formal diplomatic relations. So this was a tricky situation. Up until the last minute, the message we received was that the highest official Chen would be able to meet would probably only the Deputy Attorney General. At the time Minister Chen still stood his ground saying,"I can not accept these circumstances." It wasn't until the very last minute that we were notified, that tomorrow's meeting, the US Attorney General himself would meet with Chen. Minister Chen was extremely happy. At the time he was being interviewed by Voice of America (VOA). The host even said, Over the past 23 years, this is the first Minister of Justice from Taiwan that is allowed to enter the White House. Alt URL
  4. ^ 就刑事司法互助等議題參訪美國司法部等有關機關及團體 (Report). Executive Yuan. 15 July 2003. Retrieved 23 November 2017. 出國人員: 陳定南 (服務機關: 法務部, 服務單位: 部長室, 職稱: 部長, 官職等: 政務官), 張紫薇 (服務機關: 法務部, 服務單位: 部長室, 職稱: 參事, 官職等: 簡任), 蔡碧玉 (服務機關: 法務部, 服務單位: 檢察司, 職稱: 司長, 官職等: 簡任), 陳定南 (服務機關: 法務部, 服務單位: 調查局, 職稱: 站主任, 官職等: 簡任),
  5. ^ a b 楊, 國文 (5 August 2002). "《星期人物》鐵漢部長陳定南 黑金剋星". 自由電子新聞網 (LibertyTimes Web). Retrieved 23 November 2017.
  6. ^ a b "台湾法务部长陈定南到美协议打击犯罪 - 2002-07-09". VOA (Chinese). 9 July 2002. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
  7. ^ Chu, Rick Chu; Wu, Pei-shih (24 July 2002). "The winds of change and the media". The Taipei Times. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
  8. ^ "Media lacks [...]". China Times. 13 July 2002. Retrieved 22 November 2017.[dead link]
  9. ^ 曹, 郁芬 (13 July 2002). "陳定南晤美司法部長". Liberty Times Web. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
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