Washington, Feb. 23 (CNA) The Clinton administration on Wednesday once again stressed the long-standing US policy that rejects any use of force or threat of force to resolve the Taiwan issue, saying that providing for Taiwan's legitimate defense needs is maintaining a balance across the Taiwan Straits that has served America's national interests extremely well.
A spokesman for the Communist Chinese embassy in Washington said in a Wednesday press conference that "unification with the motherland is the only way out for Taiwan," and that "it's better for the US to stop interfering in China's internal affairs because the Taiwan issue is a question left over from a civil war."
He also added that "the Chinese people have the right to decide how to settle the Taiwan issue."
White House Press Secretary Joe Lockhart responded later in a routine press briefing that "I think the US interest in this matter is well known and is governed by the Taiwan Relations Act. And our position is long-standing and well-known: that we reject the use of force, or the threat of the use of force, to resolve the Taiwan question."
State Department spokesman James Rubin, meanwhile, told reporters that Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott delivered a very strong message to Chinese ambassador Li Zhaoxing Tuesday, stressing US concerns over the statement in the PRC white paper that indefinite delay in unification negotiations would be a reason for the PRC to use force.
Talbott also made very clear the US view that the resolution of cross-strait differences should be peaceful and the threat that Beijing has made in this regard is, therefore, counterproductive.
As to the Communist Chinese embassy claim that the white paper is not aimed at Taiwan's forthcoming presidential elections or the people of Taiwan, Rubin said "I am not sure they hit the nail on the head" if the United States, especially those who are supporting the Taiwan Security Enhancement Act, is their audience.
But Rubin noted that the latest Chinese threat has not changed the Clinton administration's opposition to the Taiwan Security Enhancement Act, adding that "we engage in quite substantial support for Taiwan, pursuant to the Taiwan Relations Act."
Stressing that "we're second to none in the world in supporting Taiwan's defense, and this is a system that has worked well," the spokesman said "if it's not broken, we don't think it ought to be fixed with a law that will complicate the defense of Taiwan."
"I just hope that those ..... who have suggested that we haven't done enough for Taiwan will take into account that, one hand, the Chinese think we're doing far too much, and we are walking a balance here that has served our national interests extremely well, providing Taiwan what it needs for its legitimate defense, despite the fact that China opposes that activity," added Rubin. (By Nelson Chung)
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