DPP's presidential contender on a mission of 'love and trust' to the US

Frank Hsieh Chang-ting, the ruling Democratic Progressive Party's candidate in Taiwan's forthcoming presidential election, yesterday embarked on what he described as a journey of 'love and trust' to the US to win support from Washington.

His 10-day visit, however, came as the island's leader, President Chen Shui-bian, sought once again to join the UN in the name of 'Taiwan', a move certain to further provoke the mainland and displease the US.

Speaking before his departure, Mr Hsieh said his first US visit as a presidential candidate would take him to New York, Washington, Detroit and Los Angeles, where he would meet US officials and speak on his plans for 'reconciliation and co-existence'.

'I have defined my trip as a journey of love and trust because I want to bring love and trust to the United States,' he said.

Taiwan's ties with the US, its informal ally and largest arms supplier, have been chilled by Mr Chen's moves to promote the island's identity since becoming president in 2000. Washington is concerned whether the island's next leader will do anything drastic to change the cross-strait status quo, a move the US fears would trigger a cross-strait war.

Douglas Paal, former director of the American Institute in Taiwan, which represents the US in Taipei in the absence of formal ties, said the Bush administration would tell Mr Hsieh during his visit that Washington wanted a peaceful resolution of the cross-strait issue.

'It opposes attempts by either side to change the cross-strait status quo,' he told Taiwan's China Times.