AIT says it will not take sides in electionsBy Jake Chung / Staff writer, with CNAThe American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) yesterday said that the US would not take sides in Taiwan’s elections in January after Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) Chairman and presidential candidate Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) claimed to have received a call from the AIT asking whether the party had noticed any Chinese interference. At an event on Wednesday, Ko said that he had received a telephone call from the AIT inquiring whether there was “Chinese influence” in the political alliance between the TPP and the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT). The AIT said in a statement that the US has complete confidence in Taiwan’s democracy and believes that Taiwanese should decide who would be their next head of state. Ko yesterday said that it was “normal” for the AIT to be concerned about talk over a TPP-KMT alliance. The TPP has kept in contact with the AIT at all levels since February, Ko said, adding that he had also promised AIT Director Sandra Oudkirk that there would be “no surprise” regarding Taiwan-US ties.
