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U.S. URGED NOT TO FORGET ITS PLEDGES TO TAIWAN

ROC Central News Agency

2007-03-28 16:01:15

    Taipei, March 28 (CNA) Taiwan welcomes any U.S. advocacy or proposals that are conducive to cross-Taiwan Strait peace and regional stability, but also hopes that the United States will not forget its commitments to Taiwan, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Wang Chien-yeh said Wednesday.

    Commenting on remarks by U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Thomas Christensen a day earlier on the U.S. stance on Taiwan and cross-strait relations, Wang said Taiwan and the United States have maintained a firm consensus on efforts to secure cross-strait peace and maintain status quo in the strait.

    Wang said Taiwan is pleased to see that the Bush administration remains resolute in observing the Taiwan Relations Act, under which the U.S. will continue to help Taiwan defend itself, adding that all efforts that help bolster cross-strait peace and regional stability are welcomed by Taiwan.

    Speaking at a U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs hearing, Christensen said the Bush administration's cross-strait policy has remained unchanged from those of the previous U.S. administrations and that the U.S. will fulfill its commitments under the Taiwan Relations Act by offering military items of a defensive nature to Taiwan and also by maintaining the United States' own capabilities in the region.

    Christensen added that China's lack of transparency and deviousness in its ever-increasing military spending is detrimental to itself and he urged the Chinese leadership to cut the number of missiles it has targeting Taiwan.

    Wang noted that China has enacted its Anti-Secession Law targeting Taiwan, has kept increasing the number of ballistic missiles aimed at Taiwan and has continued to add budget for military build-up, making itself the only predator undermining the status quo in the Taiwan Strait.

    He urged the international community to face China's efforts to alter the status quo, which he said could also jeopardize regional peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific area.

(By Deborah Kuo)

ENDITEM/J