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U.S. to continue to supply Taiwan with defensive weapons: official

ROC Central News Agency

2007-12-07 13:50:10

    Washington, Dec. 6 (CNA) The United States will continue to provide Taiwan with defensive weapons based on the Taiwan Relations Act as well as Taiwan's long-term defense needs, a U.S. State Department official said Thursday.

    Speaking during a press conference with members of Taiwan media outlets, Thomas Christensen, deputy assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, said that despite China's discontent at the United States' military sales to Taiwan, the United States will continue to carry out this policy, in the belief that maintaining Taiwan's solid defensive capabilities is conducive to maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

    As to China's concern, Christensen said that the United States values and listens to China's opinions, but it makes its decisions based on its own assessment and analysis.

    Meanwhile, Christensen expressed Washington's expectation that Taiwan's presidential election slated for March 2008 will bring about a new opportunity to improve cross-strait relations.

    Noting that the United States supports Taiwan's democratization and shows no favor to any Taiwan presidential candidate, he said the United States respects whatever decision the Taiwan people make and hopes that the March 22, 2008 presidential election will bring about an opportunity for cross-strait dialogue.

    Christensen added that he has noted the remarks made by President Chen Shui-bian recently that "cross-strait dialogue would be impossible no matter who is elected in the next presidential election, " but the United States stills attaches great expectations that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait will resume the long-stalled cross-strait dialogue. He further said he encourages both Taiwan and China not to forsake any opportunity that may lead to talks between the two sides.

    He also urged the Beijing leadership to engage in dialogue with Taiwan's democratically elected leaders.

(By Jorge Liu and Deborah Kuo)

ENDITEM/Li