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U.S. RESPONSE TO CEASING NUC'S OPERATIONS 'POSITIVE, MODERATE': MOFA

ROC Central News Agency

2006-02-28 18:00:29

    Taipei, Feb. 28 (CNA) The United States has responded in a "positive and moderate" way to President Chen Shui-bian's announcement that the National Unification Council (NUC) will cease operations, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) spokesman said Tuesday.

    Michel Lu made the remarks after statements by the White House and the U.S. State Department in the wake of President Chen's announcement Monday.

    White House spokesman Scott McClellan said the U.S. welcomes President Chen's reaffirmation of his administration's commitment to cross-strait peace and stability and to the pledges he made in his inaugural address.

    State Department deputy spokesman Adam Ereli said that the U.S. understanding is that President Chen did not abolish the NUC, but has frozen it, and that he reaffirmed Taiwan's commitment to the status quo. "We attach great importance to that commitment, " he added.

    Lu said that the ministry has heeded the response of the United States and initially concluded that the U.S. attitude is "positive and moderate."

    Although there had been a "gap in perception" between Taiwan and the U.S. after President Chen proposed Jan. 29 that Taiwan should consider scrapping the NUC and the National Unification Guidelines, whose ultimate goal is eventual unification with China, the two sides have through communications achieved a result that is acceptable to both sides, Lu said. "This shows that bilateral communications have been smooth and effective," he added.

    Asked why Washington used the term "frozen" instead of the term "cease to function" used by Taipei to refer to the decision on the NUC's operations, Lu said that "we've heeded the wording of the U.S., "adding that Washington has its own view but that Taiwan has clearly conveyed its sense to the U.S. and the international community through its wording.

    He said that during the communication process, Taiwan had reaffirmed "its commitment to maintain the status quo, " which is also the focus of the official response of the U.S, showing that the Washington fully understands Taiwan's stance and that it has continued to prod both sides of the Taiwan Strait not to unilaterally change the status quo and to urge Beijing to engage in dialogue with Taiwan's duly elected leaders.

    Lu also said that the ministry has sent related information on the ceasing of the NUC's operations to Taiwan's 122 overseas missions and that it will closely heed the official responses from other nations.

(By Lilian Wu)

enditem/Li