U.S. DISMISSES SUGGESTIONS ABOUT REPRISAL FOR TAIWAN REFERENDUM
2003-12-18 22:37:02
Washington, Dec. 17 (CNA) A State Department official dismissed as "irresponsible rumors" suggestions in Taipei that Washington could downgrade its ties with Taiwan if the country goes ahead with a referendum in spite of U.S. disapproval.
Adam Ereli, deputy spokesman for the State Department said that no downgrading of ties will be contemplated by the State Department even if Taiwan holds an unprecedented referendum in March.
He made the remarks after being asked to comment on reports from Taipei that Washington, which opposes any attempt by Taiwan to change the cross-Taiwan Strait status quo unilaterally via referendum, might downgrade its ties, perhaps by recalling American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) head Douglas Paal, or by closing the AIT's Kaohsiung office if its warning falls on deaf ears.
In a related development Wednesday, State Department Spokesman Richard Boucher refused to comment on President Chen Shui-bian's statement that he will rescind his promises of not changing the country's status quo if Beijing test fires missiles into the sea near Taiwan.
Instead, the spokesman reiterated the long-standing policy that Washington opposes any unilateral attempts to change the status quo in the Taiwan Strait and that the use of force to resolve cross-strait differences is unacceptable.
(By Lin Wen-chi, Jay Chen & Maubo Chang)
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