Washington, March 16 (CNA) The United States reiterated Thursday its firm position of rejecting use of force to resolve cross-Taiwan Strait differences and urged Chinese leaders to be prudent and patient before and after Taiwan's March 18 presidential election, in the hope that both Taipei and Beijing will take positive steps to foster dialogue and reduce tension after the election.
In response to Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji's threat against Taiwan Wednesday, White House Press Secretary Joe Lockhart emphasized in a routine press briefing: "Our view is to restate our position that we believe in a 'one China,' and we reject the use of violence, and we promote dialogue between the parties. That has been our policy for 30 years. It's been supported on a bipartisan basis by presidents from Reagan, Ford, Nixon, Presidents Carter, Bush. And that is our view, and it is well known in China."
About the remarks by some mainland Chinese academics that Beijing could respond within hours if the candidate of a pro-independence party in Taiwan is elected, State Department spokesman Jamie Rubin also told reporters that "we believe in a 'one China' policy, and we believe both sides should engage in dialogue. And we insist that there be a peaceful resolution to these kind of disputes."
The United States has repeatedly encouraged China and Taiwan to pursue steps to reduce cross-strait tension and Washington urges both sides to refrain from actions or statements that increase tensions or make dialogue more difficult to achieve. "And we urge, instead, positive steps to foster dialogue, reduce tensions, and emphasize peaceful resolution and promote mutual understanding," said Rubin.
"With respect to the use of force," the spokesman added, "let me say categorically, that we reject the use of force as an attempt to resolve cross-strait differences."
As China's premier and other senior officials as well as mainland Chinese academics have continued to warn Taiwan in very strong language against any moves toward independence, Rubin pointed out that Undersecretary of State Thomas Pickering called in PRC ambassador Li Zhaoxing Thursday morning to discuss the importance of prudence and patience before and after the Taiwan presidential election, "and our hope to see, following that election, positive steps to reduce tensions and foster dialogue."
In general, Rubin noted, "we don't think statements of the kind that were mentioned are helpful. Instead, we want to see statements that can foster dialogue and make it more likely to resolve this issue peacefully."
As to what inspired the State Department to call in the PRC ambassador, Rubin said that on the eve of the election in Taiwan, "We thought it was appropriate to have a face-to-face meeting with the Chinese ambassador and urge patience and prudence on Beijing before, during and after that election."
How concerned is the Clinton administration that, should Chen Shui-bian of the pro-independence party win, the 20-year-old facade that there is one China could eventually be shattered?
Rubin replied: "I don't think it would appropriate on the eve of an election to make comments about what effect might or might not happen from one particular candidate. We don't support or favor any candidate in Taiwan's March 18 election. We believe that this is a decision, a democratic decision, for the people of Taiwan to make and not for us to prejudge by making comments on the eve of such an election." (By Nelson Chung)
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