Washington, Nov. 20 (CNA) Texas Governor George W. Bush, the Republican Party's presidential candidate, reiterated on Friday that the United States will help Taiwan defend itself against any use of force by mainland China.
The remarks are a reflection of the fact that Taiwan has a special status for the US government and the US people, said a Bush advisor who asked not to be named while briefing Washington-based foreign correspondents on Bush's foreign policy speech delivered at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in California.
"The effort to Bring Taiwan into the World Trade Organization, as well as other organizations, is also a recognition of Taiwan's democracy," the advisor said, adding that "it is important to give Taiwan additional space in the global community, and membership in these economic groups can help Taiwan as well as help the rest of the world because Taiwan is a major trading power and a major economy."
Asked about Bush's views on the Taiwan Security Enhancement Act, the advisor claimed that Bush has expressed sympathy with the general direction and the concepts of that legislation although without endorsing all the particulars.
"In essence, what that's focusing on is the need to ensure Taiwan has the means to defend itself as the United States has pledged to do under the Taiwan Relations Act," he went on.
Regarding Bush's stance on the "special state-to-state relationship" theory regarding ties between Taiwan and mainland China set forth by Republic of China President Lee Teng-hui in July, the advisor said he does not believe Bush has taken a particular position on that statement.
"What he's tried to emphasize are the key points made here, which is that Taiwan is a democracy and that gives Taiwan a special status for the US government and the US people. At the same time, he recognizes the one-China policy, and what he's making quite clear to Beijing is that threats to use force against Taiwanese democracy will be counterproductive" the Bush aide explained.
On the issue of the possible transfer of theater missile defense technology to Taiwan, the advisor said: "I've heard no question about providing defensive weapons, including missile defense, to Taiwan."
As to the question of whether the United States will maintain "strategic ambiguity" in the Taiwan Strait, the advisor replied: "I think the better course is to rely on what the governor has said here and on other occasions about helping Taiwan to be able to defend itself ... Indeed, it will be counterproductive for China to threaten force against Taiwan, and it's important for China to understand that the United States will help Taiwan defend itself." (By Jay Chen and Flor Wang)
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