Ma Ying-jeou, chairman of the Taiwan-based Kuomintang (KMT) party, is scheduled to pay a visit to the United States on March 19-27. It is said his tour will cover Los Angeles, Washington D.C., New York and Boston. As commented by Taiwan media, the visit will be of "great political significance" as it will be Ma's first visit since his election as KMT chairman.

According to Taiwan media, Ma will visit Hoover Institution in Stanford University, which is working on the archives of KMT's party history and diaries of Chiang Kai-shek and Chiang Ching-kuo. However, possibility is not ruled out for Ma to "come cross" U.S. officials in Washington D.C. and to visit U.S. think tank. Ma will also give a speech at his Alma Mater Harvard University.

Since Ma has announced that KMT arms proposal will be officially issued at the turn of the month, till then KMT will have a clear-cut attitude towards Taiwan's arms purchase and its relations with the United States will "relatively relax", hence Ma's schedule set in mid-March.

Reports say considering the timetable of Chen Shui-bian's attempt to abolish Taiwan's "National Unification Council" and "National Unification Guideline", Ma's visit to the United States might coincide with Chen's announcement of the move, therefore the KMT chairman's upcoming visit will surely arouse intense attention.

By People's Daily Online