DPP announces appointment of Joseph Wu as DPP representative to the U.S.

DPP Chair Su Tseng-chang announced in a press conference on Nov. 12 that he has appointed current executive director of the DPP’s Policy Research Committee, Mr. Joseph Wu, as the DPP representative to the U.S.

“Joseph Wu has a strong affinity in US and DPP policy, and with closer interaction with him, I don’t need to consider another candidate,” Chair Su said. “I strongly believe that he will clearly express the DPP’s standpoints and that he will make sure that messages from the U.S. are carried back. I have high hopes that Taiwan-U.S. relations will become even better and progress even further under Joseph’s presence.”

Chair Su said that in order to establish mutual trust and show the DPP’s goodwill intentions, the DPP has already notified the U.S. side about the appointment. He said that in the upcoming period, he will ask Mr. Wu to go to the U.S. and start the preparations for the work ahead.

“Even though the DPP has limited resources, we must exert even greater efforts,” he said.

He also mentioned that he has high hopes that external parties will give the DPP support and greater encouragement.

In Chair Su’s remarks to the press, he said that the region surrounding Taiwan has gone through many changes, and how to strengthen Taiwan-U.S. relations has been an important part of his role as chair. During this time, he has invited many scholars, experts and former DPP officials to hold discussions and make the necessary preparation to tackle these issues.

During the US presidential election campaign, the DPP sent a delegation comprised of DPP legislators and party staff to observe both the Democratic and Republican conventions. The DPP also sent another election observation group to watch the events surrounding the presidential election right on the week that voting took place.

Chair Su praised Mr. Wu for his past outstanding service as representative to the U.S. during the DPP administration. Also recently, he has been engaged in discussions with many officials, scholars and think tank experts regarding U.S.-Taiwan relations, traveling frequently to the U.S. and becoming familiar with both international and domestic politics as executive director of the Policy Research Committee.

Mr. Wu said in his remarks that he gladly accepts the position, willing to work hard and give it his all despite clear results not being immediately conspicuous. He explained that the role of the DPP’s representative to the U.S. is to engage with US officials, think tank experts, academics, media and members of the Taiwan overseas community.

He also mentioned that having a DPP representative in the U.S. is not an extension of political party competition overseas. The purpose for this office is to let the U.S. understand the most authentic and accurate side of a major political party in such a diverse society as Taiwan.

“This will be my job objective, and afterwards, whenever it is necessary, I will be heading to the U.S.,” Mr. Wu said.

 

Media Q&A with Joseph Wu

Q: In the last presidential election, the DPP and the U.S. encountered tense relations, and there were even rumors that the U.S. complained about the DPP.

A: International relations is not an extension of domestic politics, but it should be about making friends. It is also about going from not knowing each other to understanding each other and from misunderstandings to becoming friends. I will not let domestic political competition be carried out overseas, and what I will do right now is to exert all my efforts into making friends so that the U.S. understands the beautiful side of Taiwan. If both the KMT and the DPP wish to strengthen Taiwan-U.S. relations, this is actually a good thing. Especially, the DPP in Taiwan is an important force, and if we can let the U.S. understand better the DPP and the policies that it represents, this is overall all for the best of Taiwan.

 

Q: When will Chair Su Tseng-chang visit the U.S., and what is the current progress of the preparations for the DPP’s representative office in the U.S.?

A: Besides the recent visit by Director Liu Shih-chung of the Department of International Affairs to scout locations, I have also made contact with Mr. Michael Fonte, DPP Liaison in Washington, D.C., to discuss location and personnel arrangements. These related duties will continue to be carried out with suggestions made by Chair Su. However, since the U.S. presidential election has just concluded, there have been many U.S. officials that haven’t taken office yet, and some even need congressional approval, so the DPP must consider each of these factors concerning U.S. domestic circumstances. The DPP is currently working on two matters, one is Chair Su’s visit to the U.S., and the second is the establishment of the representative office. We expect that when both the schedules of the U.S. side and Chair Su are able to accommodate each other, we will arrange for Chair Su’s visit, so that everyone can clearly understand that the DPP’s current relationship with the U.S. is going very well.

 

Q: Has the DPP’s representative to the U.S. already gained the approval from the U.S.’ side? Will you be making frequent visits?

A: At the moment, Director Liu has already delivered the information to the AIT. Before 2000, the DPP also had a representative office, and the representative would be based in Taiwan, but still make several trips to the U.S. I will still continue with my tasks at the Policy Research Committee, and I will make trips to the U.S. every two to three months, and if there are any necessary times where I need to be there, I will make extra trips as well.

 

 

DPP announces appointment of Joseph Wu as DPP representative to the U.S.