Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

CHINA'S ENACTMENT OF ANTI-SECESSION LAW MAY BENEFIT TAIWAN: MINISTER

ROC Central News Agency

2005-03-17 23:38:52

    Taipei, March 17 (CNA) China's recent enactment of the Anti-Secession Law will benefit Taiwan if the nation handles repercussions of the legislation prudently, Minister of Foreign Affairs Tan Sun Chen said Thursday.

    The United States House of Representatives approved a resolution by an overwhelming vote of 424-4 Wednesday urging President George Bush's administration to voice grave concern about China's provocative action in enacting the law, in which Beijing gives itself the authority to use "non-peaceful means" against Taiwan, Chen noted.

    The U.S. Senate is expected to pass a similar resolution in a few days, he added.

    Washington may reconsider a proposal by Taiwan to amend the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA) to enhance Taiwan's security in the wake of China's legislation, the minister went on.

    The TRA has been in effect for more than 25 years and the U.S. rejected a similar proposal several years ago in light of the fact that it is a U.S. internal law and that China's reaction might have made the situation more complicated, Chen pointed out.

    The U.S. and Japan, which listed the Taiwan Strait issue as one of their common strategic objectives in a joint statement issued after concluding their Security Consultative Committee meeting Feb. 19 in Washington, might further realize the importance of protecting the area's security after China's ill-intended legislation, he continued.

    Also, he said, the European Union, which is mulling the lifting of an arms embargo on China by the end of June, might reconsider its intent in the face of increasing pressure from the United States and the international community following Beijing's enactment of the controversial law.

(By Huang Kwang-chun)

ENDITEM/J