In the absence of formal ties, Taiwan runs a de facto embassy in the United States. But the country's two biggest political parties also have separate representative offices in Washington D.C. TaiwanPlus spoke with both parties' representatives to the U.S. to find out what these offices do and why they're necessary.
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00:00Shouting matches, thrown objects, and all-out brawls.
00:06Common sights in Taiwan's legislature between the country's two biggest political parties,
00:11the Democratic Progressive Party and the Kuomintang.
00:15The two sides, often at odds over everything from ideology to policy.
00:21On foreign policy, though, the two parties take a similar approach.
00:25Without formal diplomatic ties, Taipei and Washington's relations are facilitated through
00:30the country's de facto embassy in the United States.
00:35And hoping to forge closer ties with their American allies, both the DPP and KMT also
00:41operate separate missions in Washington.
00:44We're here to have regular contacts with different circles in Washington, D.C., including the
00:53U.S. government, Congress, the academic circles, and also just for our communities.
01:03Retired Ambassador Victor Chin is the Kuomintang's representative in Washington.
01:09He's been in the U.S. for nearly two years now, helping re-establish the KMT's presence
01:14in the U.S. Capitol after the party's previous liaison office shut down in 2008.
01:20I really worry about Taiwan, especially after the tensions arises in the Taiwan Strait.
01:28And I think I can play a part in making sure that the American friends understand our situation,
01:38understand our needs.
01:40At a time when China's ramping up its threats against Taiwan, Chin says he's fighting the
01:46perception that his party capitulates to Beijing.
01:49If you look deep down into the situation, you realize that KMT is not only not pro-China,
01:57it's actually the party that started this democratization process in Taiwan that brought
02:05democracy to Taiwan.
02:06It is not pro-China at all.
02:10And despite their differences, Chin says partisan fighting doesn't make it to the U.S.
02:15Instead, the KMT and DPP can work together in Washington to represent the best of Taiwan.
02:22We don't have to be arguing, fighting all the way.
02:26And I know, especially in Washington, D.C., we're representing major political parties
02:32of Taiwan.
02:34And we don't want our American friends to see us fighting all the time.
02:41Now that we've met with the KMT here in D.C., we're going to head down the road to meet
02:44with the DPP.
02:46Just a mile away, Iris Hsiao heads the DPP mission in Washington.
02:51The mission of DPP mission is simple.
02:53We invest, we align, we compete.
02:57Diplomats because diplomats come and go every couple of years, but we were here.
03:02We have for 11 years now, we have institutional memories.
03:09While Taiwan's representative office carries out the country's formal diplomatic policies,
03:14Hsiao is able to get closer to D.C. policymakers.
03:18We help people in this town, in the Washington's policy community to understand what's going
03:26on in Taiwan.
03:28And you know, because the domestic politics, given it's really foreign and difficult for
03:36people to understand, even if they follow Taiwan closely.
03:39Hsiao says her job is also about fighting misperceptions about her party's relationship
03:44with China.
03:45We are also facing a growingly competitive war on narratives in this town.
03:53The long conventional wisdom of DPP as a provocateur for cross-strait relations.
04:03Nothing separates the KMT and DPP more than their views on China.
04:08But when it comes to representing Taiwan in Washington, Hsiao and her counterpart both
04:12agree.
04:13It's all about putting their best foot forward.
04:16I was put on the same panel with my counterpart, KMT counterpart, a couple of times.
04:24We don't engage in friendly fire.
04:28Both parties say they're doing what's best for Taiwan.
04:32Back home, it might seem like whenever one party comes up heads, the other is obligated
04:37to go tails.
04:38But here in D.C., the KMT and DPP are two sides of the same coin.
04:43Leon Lien, Laurel Stewart, and Leslie Liao in Washington D.C. for Taiwan Plus.