U.S. and Taiwan (2006)

U.S. Department of State

Daily Press Briefing (Corrected)

Sean McCormack, Spokesman
Washington, DC
May 5, 2006

12:55 p.m. EDT

[ ...Intervening Text... ]

QUESTION: Sean, change subject on Taiwan?

MR. MCCORMACK: Okay.

QUESTION: I just want to ask did you get the formal request from Taiwan for President Chen Shui-bian to transit on the back?

MR. MCCORMACK: Have we got a formal request?

MR. CASEY: I honestly don't know.

MR. MCCORMACK: Okay. We'll check for you. We'll check for you.

QUESTION: Another question, a follow-up.

MR. MCCORMACK: Sure.

QUESTION: It is said that Taiwan, when Taiwan cancel the trip on the way to South Africa, they ask the State Department to keep the secret and why on the third, you publicly issue a statement that this trip was canceled?

MR. MCCORMACK: I'm not aware of this -- those sorts of allegations.

Dave.

[ ...Intervening Text... ]

QUESTION: Back to the Taiwanese leader's transit.

MR. MCCORMACK: Oh, good.

QUESTION: There has to be at this time the request? There has to be like a written form not just a verbal one, because we heard that U.S. requested if they're going to have any transit on the way back, it has to be in written.

MR. MCCORMACK: Whatever the standard procedure is for that, I don't know. I would expect that it be followed in this case, as well.

QUESTION: Any deadline? You think that --

MR. MCCORMACK: I'm not aware of any deadline. Thank you.

(The briefing was concluded at 1:23 p.m.)