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NO ZERO-SUM GAME IN U.S. DEALING WITH CROSS-STRAIT AFFAIRS: MINISTER

2003-12-15 21:36:11

    Taipei, Dec. 15 (CNA) Minister of Foreign Affairs Eugene Chien said Monday progress in Washington-Beijing relations doesn't mean a retreat in Taiwan-U.S. relations.

    Chien made the remarks in a special report to the Legislative Yuan's Foreign Affairs Committee on Taiwan-U.S. relations in the wake of a meeting between U.S. President George W. Bush and mainland Chinese President Wen Jiabao at the White House Dec. 9.

    Chien said Bush called mainland China a "diplomatic partner" in a ceremony welcoming Wen, indicating close Washington-Beijing interaction in the diplomatic arena.

    Nevertheless, Chien said, the United States has traditionally adopted a "parallel" approach, rather than a zero-sum game strategy, in dealing with the two sides of the Taiwan Strait.

    Against this backdrop, he noted, advancement in U.S.-mainland China ties doesn't necessarily mean a regression in Taipei-Washington relations.

    Chien told lawmakers that Bush had unequivocally conveyed several messages during Wen's first official visit to the United States, including that the U.S. "one China" policy based on the Washington-Beijing joint communiques and the Taiwan Relations Act has remained unchanged; the United States does not support Taiwan independence and is opposed to either side of the Taiwan Strait taking unilateral action to change the status quo.

    In his view, Chien said, Bush's messages carried two purposes. "On the one hand, Bush reminded Wen that if Beijing uses force against Taiwan, the United States would have to get involved. On the other, Bush reminded Taiwan that the United States is opposed to Taiwan taking any unilateral action to change the status quo, " Chien explained.

    Touching on the U. S. concern about Taiwan's "defensive referendum" plan, Chien said the two sides do not coincide in their considerations. "While Taiwan considers the referendum issue from the perspective of strengthening its young democracy and opposing mainland China's missile threat, the United States is most concerned about maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and easing cross-strait tensions," Chien said.

    Noting that the United States has reaffirmed its security commitment to Taiwan in the Bush-Wen meeting, Chien said the Bush administration would not like to see any escalation of cross-strait tension simply because of Taiwan's referendum, which might force Washington to get involved in a cross-strait conflict.

    Chien said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to communicate with U.S. authorities through various channels. "We'll convince U.S. authorities that the planned referendum is meant to reinforce our democratic system and maintain peace and the status quo in the Taiwan Strait."

    Chien said MOFA will do its utmost to put forth the point that since the referendum will not touch on the subject of independence or unification nor will it breach President Chen Shui-bian's promise of not to change Taiwan's official name and national flag, it will not violate U.S. strategic interests in the Asia-Pacific region.

    MOFA will also seek to have the United States and the international community understand that mainland China's insistence on its "one China" and "one country, two systems" premises, as well as its refusal to renounce the use of force against Taiwan and its continued military build-up against Taiwan are the main obstacles to resumption of peaceful cross-strait dialogue and the alleviation of cross-strait tension.

(By Sofia Wu)

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