ROC Representative to the U.S. Jason Yuan said former President George W. Bush has agreed to visit Taiwan.
“The former U.S. president will follow in the footsteps of his father and brother in traveling to Taiwan,” Yuan said April 7. “We are in the process of settling on a suitable itinerary and expect to announce further details shortly.”
According to Yuan, the ROC and Bush family share a longstanding relationship. “George Bush, the elder, came to Taiwan in 1994 after leaving office and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush has five visits under his belt,” he said. “George W. Bush is the only member of the Bush clan not to have made the journey.”
Yuan said Bush first promised to visit Taiwan last November and is looking forward to the trip. “He hopes to take his time and enjoy a special stay.”
The former president has a personal interest in cross-strait relations, Yuan said, adding that his visit will see him brought up to date on the latest Taipei-Beijing developments.
Yuan also dismissed claims that Bush’s visit has been organized in secret so as to keep Beijing in the dark and avoid a potentially embarrassing cancellation. “The former president’s decision should not be seen as a surprise as the whole process was carried out transparently.”
“What matters most is mutual consent,” Yuan said. “The ROC government welcomes Bush’s visit to Taiwan and he is more than willing to come.” (CYH-JSM)