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BASIC TONE OF U.S. POLICY TOWARD TAIWAN REMAINS UNCHANGED: MOFA

2003-12-10 21:07:59

    Taipei, Dec. 10 (CNA) The basic tone of the U.S. policy toward the Taiwan Strait issue has remained unchanged after a meeting between U.S. President George W. Bush and mainland Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, Minister of Foreign Affairs Eugene Chien said Wednesday.

    Judging from Bush's reaffirmation at a news conference after his talks with Wen in Washington, D.C. Tuesday that the United States opposes any unilateral decision by either China or Taiwan to change the status quo, Chien said the basic tone of the U.S. policy toward the cross-strait issue has not changed.

    Chien said Bush has reiterated Washington's one-China policy based on its three joint communiques with Beijing and its Taiwan Relations Act. The gist of the U.S. one-China policy requires a peaceful solution to cross-strait disputes, opposes China using force against Taiwan and offers no support for Taiwan independence. "Bush's remarks after his meeting with Wen signal no fundamental changes to the basic U.S. policy toward the cross-strait issue," Chien noted.

    As to Bush's statement that he opposes "comments and actions made by the leader of Taiwan" that indicate that President Chen Shui-bian "may be willing to make decisions unilaterally, to change the status quo," Chien said Washington apparently still doesn't fully understand Taiwan's "defensive referendum" plan.

    Chien said the planned referendum on missile threat from China is for strengthening Taiwan's young democracy, avoiding war, maintaining stability in the Taiwan Strait and preserving the status quo. "President Chen himself has on many occasions declared that the referendum plan has nothing to do with the subject of independence and will not breach his 'four noes plus one pledge,'" Chien said, adding that the plan doesn't violate the U.S. strategic goal of maintaining peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region.

    Chien said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will strengthen communications with the United States and will continue to make the United States understand the basic spirit of Taiwan's defensive referendum plan and that mainland China's military build-up and missile deployment against Taiwan are the real source of cross-strait tension.

(By Sofia Wu)

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