• Military

• WMD Menu                           

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Washington, Oct. 27 (CNA) Former US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Winston Lord said on Wednesday that Republic of China President Lee Teng-hui's "state-to-state" relationship theory is a description of "objective reality."

Lord made the remarks at a Senate confirmation hearing called by Jesse Helms (R-N.C.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, for new US Ambassador to China Joseph Prueher.

"What you have now, Mr. Chairman, is de facto two separate entities. And when President Lee spoke out recently, he was describing what is objective reality," Lord said while responding to questions raised by Helms on whether "one China" is going to happen, and under what circumstances.

"Taiwan has done very well with a de facto separation from the mainland. There should be no pressure on it. It should be able to determine its own future dealings with China," Lord said.

"But to make this de jure without consulting with the (US) administration I think did blindside the administration, did not serve Taiwan's interest," he added.

"There will not be `one China' completely until the mainland looks more like Taiwan; namely, freer. And Taiwan has no interest in joining up with it (the mainland) until that happens," he continued.

Lord also said that it is important for Washington to warn Beijing not to use force while seeking to solve its dispute with Taiwan.

Lord and several US congressmen present at the hearing also urged the US administration to be more consistent in asking mainland China to improve its human rights record.

Lord said that the United States should not adopt double standards while dealing with mainland China on the human rights issue, and should not remain silent on Beijing's arrest of the mother of leading mainland dissident Wang Dan.

Lord, who once also served as US ambassador to mainland China, said that the United States should again propose at the annual meeting of the United Nation's Human Rights Committee that mainland China improve its human rights protection if dialogue between Washington and Beijing on the issue cannot be conducted smoothly. (By Jay Chen and Bear Lee)