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U.S. URGES CHINA TO OPEN DIALOGUE WITH TAIWAN

ROC Central News Agency

2006-03-09 11:28:02

    Washington, March 8 (CNA) A high-ranking U.S. State Department official called on China Wednesday to open dialogue with the elected leaders in Taiwan to facilitate a peaceful resolution of cross-Taiwan Strait differences.

    Christopher Hill, assistant secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, reiterated that in accordance with its "one China" policy, the three communiques with China and the Taiwan Relations Act, the United States opposes any unilateral changes by either side to the status quo, does not support Taiwan independence and opposes the use or threat of force by Beijing. "We believe that a reduction in tensions and an ultimate peaceful resolution of cross-strait differences requires Beijing to engage in meaningful dialogue with Taiwan's democratically elected leaders in the near future, " Hill said in his written testimony to a hearing on East Asia issues held by the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific under the House of Representatives' Committee on International Relations.

    When asked by subcommittee chairman James A. Leach about Taiwan's Feb. 27 announcement to "cease the function" of the National Unification Council -- a council which is symbolic of Taiwan's goal of unifying with China, Hill repeated that Washington follows a "one China" policy and has cautioned against any unilateral moves by either side. "And we urge them to resolve the issues through peaceful dialogue," he added.

    On a question on the same subject raised by the press after the hearing, Hill said "we have talked over this issue back and forth" and that "there shouldn't be any room for unilateral announcements or threat of force of any kind."

    Asked if the United States has obtained the assurances that it has sought from Taiwan, Hill emphasized that "we believe these issues need to be resolved through dialogue" and that "both sides need to show restraint." "There is no role for any type of non-peaceful means. Obviously the issues have to be resolved peacefully. We have repeated that our policy remains very much the policy enunciated by seven presidents, " he said.

    Last week, State Department Deputy spokesman Adam Ereli issued a written statement asking Taiwan to "unambiguously affirm that the Feb. 27 announcement did not abolish the National Unification Council, did not change the status quo, and that the assurances remain in effect."

    Ereli also said that "abrogating an assurance would be changing the status quo" and that "the maintenance of Taiwan's assurances is critical to preservation of the status quo."

(By Oliver Lin and Y.F. Low)

ENDITEM/Li