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Washington, March 1 (CNA) A cross-Taiwan Strait military conflict would have disastrous consequences, former US ambassador to mainland China James Lilley said on Wednesday.

Lilley made the remarks at a seminar on Taiwan's upcoming presidential election sponsored by the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), a US-based think tank.

Lilley said that he does not think Beijing will invade Taiwan within the next five years, but added that he cannot rule out the possibility.

He reiterated that a cross-strait military conflict would bring about disastrous consequences, and that Beijing must understand that the use of force is not an option.

Lilley said the United States maybe cannot persuade Beijing to renounce the use of force against Taiwan, but it should try nevertheless.

Commenting on President Bill Clinton's recent remark that cross-strait issues must be solved peacefully with the consent of the people of Taiwan, Lilley said the remark is beneficial to Taiwan, but added that US officials do not make enough statements in a similar vein.

He said he is not in favor of a tit-for-tat sale by the United States of Aegis-class warships to Taiwan or the passing of the Taiwan Security Enhancement Act because of Beijing's issuance of its white paper on "the one-China principle and the Taiwan issue."

Lin Wei, director of AEI's Asian research unit, agreed with Lilley's point of view, saying that no matter how many weapons Taiwan acquires, they cannot absolutely guarantee Taiwan's security, and cross-strait issues cannot be solved by military means.

As to the issue of US arms sales to Taiwan, Lilley asserted that the United States maintains the principles outlined during former President Ronald Reagan's administration -- that Beijing must solve cross-strait disputes by peaceful means, and that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait maintain a military balance. The United States should consider its arms sales to Taiwan based on these principles, he added.

In addition to the point of view that the cross-strait issue cannot be solved by military means, Lilley and Lin also asserted that US executive branch officials should give more affirmation to Taiwan's democratic development, and that they should support democratization in mainland China as a prerequisite for the ultimate unification of the two sides of the Taiwan Strait. (By Jay Chen and David Hsu)