Trip cancelation understandable: KMTPRAGMATIC RELATIONS: It is understandable for the US Department of State to give priority to domestic stability, the KMT chairman said, calling for improved exchangesBy Sherry Hsiao / Staff reporterChinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Johnny Chiang (江啟臣) yesterday said that the cancelation of US Ambassador to the UN Kelly Craft’s visit to Taiwan was understandable, while KMT spokeswoman Lu Chen-wei (盧宸緯) accused the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) of using the matter for political gain, after DPP Legislator Chen Ting-fei (陳亭妃) said that the KMT should bear “considerable responsibility” for the cancelation. The KMT has always advocated for pragmatic, substantive and sustainable relations between Taiwan and the US, he said. Chen earlier yesterday said that the KMT should bear “considerable responsibility” for the cancelation of Craft’s trip. She asked whether the KMT was also to blame for the cancelation of Pompeo’s trip to Belgium. Although the cancelation of Craft’s trip has been confirmed, the KMT welcomes visits aimed at promoting bilateral exchanges and common interests by US officials who have left office, she added.

Source: Taipei Times January 13, 2021 15:56 UTC