Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

RICE URGES CHINA TO COOL CROSS-STRAIT TENSIONS CAUSED BY NEW LAW

ROC Central News Agency

2005-03-21 15:32:43

    Beijing, March 21 (CNA) Visiting U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice urged Beijing at a news conference Monday to take steps to cool tensions that have flared across the Taiwan Strait since the passage of the Anti-Secession Law, describing the law as an unwelcome piece of legislation.

    Noting that cross-Taiwan Strait issues should be resolved by the two sides themselves in a peaceful manner, Rice said that any unilateral moves that increase tensions are not helpful and that the Anti-Secession Law is not helpful in reducing cross-strait tensions.

    Earlier in the day, Rice met with Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing for a talk. Rice reportedly said to Li that the United States' "one China" policy and its commitment to the Three Communiques remain unchanged, but the obligations under the Taiwan Relations Act demand that the United States make clear to both parties that unilateral moves are not helpful.

    Reiterating Washington's concerns over the development of cross-strait relations, Rice stressed that cross-strait differences must be resolved peacefully.

    Rice focused on the common interest of a more peaceful and secure Asia-Pacific region. She also pushed China to improve its human rights while warning that the North Korea nuclear standoff cannot go on forever.

    For his part, Li told Rice that the Taiwan issue remains the biggest challenge in Beijing-Washington relations and whether this issue can be properly handled will directly affect how U.S.-China relations unfold.

    Rice was to leave the Chinese capital later Monday at the end of her six-nation Asian tour that has also taken her to India, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Japan and South Korea.

(By Liao Chen-yi and Deborah Kuo)

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