taipeitimes.com/news/2002/09 … 0000169721
[quote]“This is a new reality that Taiwan, with its maturing economy, must accept. To ignore this fact of life or adopt policies to try to counter it will inevitably lead to self-marginalization,” he said.
Expanding economic relations between China and Taiwan through investments and trade Paal said, would also encourage US investment in Taiwan.[/quote]
Loose cannons in Taiwan are the bane of the US State Dept.
However, if Mr. Paal is going to exert trade or commercial pressure on the Taiwan governing authorities, his trade policies are bound by the TRA and certain US cases on the issues of WTO. So AIT encouragements of direct trade links with China does not harm Taipei, if Mr. Paal is abiding by the WTO enhancement laws of TRA.