Thursday, March 24, 2011

Former U.S. official to visit Taiwan

Taipei, March 24 (CNA) Former United States Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage is leading a delegation of think tank scholars that will visit Taiwan later this week, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said Thursday.

Armitage, who served from 2001-2005, will be joined by a group of former U.S. foreign policy and security officials in a weeklong visit, during which the delegation will meet with President Ma Ying-jeou and high-ranking local officials, according to Bruce J.D. Linghu, director-general of the MOFA's Department of North American Affairs.

Linghu described Armitage as a vital player in forging closer U.S.-Taiwan relations and said he is still an opinion leader in U.S. diplomacy. Armitage is scheduled to visit Taipei March 27-30.

The delegation, most of whom have served in former Republican administrations, include former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Randy Schriver, who is now president and chief executive officer of the Project 2049 Institute, a right-wing think tank focused on Asia-Pacific affairs.

Mark Stokes, executive director of the Project 2049 Institute, former Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Christina Rocca, and former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs John Gastright will be among the delegation members.

They are also expected to meet National Security Council Secretary-General Hu Wei-jen, Foreign Minister Timothy C.T. Yang and Mainland Affairs Council Chairwoman Lai Shin-yuan to discuss a wide range of topics, according to Linghu. (By Chris Wang) ENDITEM/J