The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday welcomed a stern res-ponse by the US to the possibility that China could use force to push Taiwan closer to reunification.
Henry Chen (陳銘政), the ministry's spokesman, said Washington's position on seeking a peaceful solution to the cross-strait issue is consistent with Taiwan's policy.
"The two sides of the Strait should foster cooperation through dialogue and exchanges and solve problems through peaceful means," Chen said.
"We welcome the US' reiteration that cross-strait issues should be solved peacefully," he said.
White House spokesman Joe Lockhart said on Monday the Clinton administration viewed threats against Taiwan "with grave concern."
China heightened the possibility of a military attack with a white paper released on Monday, in which it formally stated that it reserved the right to use arms if Taiwan indefinitely delays reunification.
The paper did not, however, set a timetable for reunification.
Taiwan strongly rejected the "Three Ifs" of a possible Chinese attack: "if Taiwan declares independence, if a foreign force invades Taiwan or if Taiwan indefinitely rejects reunification."
The White Paper on Taiwan is viewed by local political analysts as an attempt by Beijing to push President Lee Teng-hui's (李登輝) "state-to-state" policy off the table and revive the "one-China" framework under the next president's cross-strait policy.
Prior to Lee's statement, Taiwan's "one-China" policy claimed that there was only one China, but comprising two "political entities."
Su Chi (蘇起), Chairman of the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC), told reporters yesterday that although the probability of a Chinese missile launch is small, the white paper is nevertheless a "political gesture," timed to influence public opinion here and internationally.
"It has increased tension in the Taiwan Strait," Su said.
Political analysts in Taiwan said the white paper's belligerent words clearly had had the effect of reminding Washington of the 1996 missile tests, when the US sent in two battle carrier groups in res-ponse to Beijing's saber-rattling in the lead-up to Taiwan's first direct presidential election.
"This is definitely a slap in the face for the US," said Joseph Wu (吳釗燮), a political analyst with the Institute of International Relations at National Chengchi University, pointing out that the white paper was announced shortly after Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott had returned to Washington from a trip to Beijing.
Talbott held talks with Chinese authorities in Beijing over US-China military ties last week.
"The White House is using strong words to pre-empt any possible military actions from China. It [the white paper] reminds Washington of 1996," Wu said.
Lockhart also indicated that the white paper resembled a replay of China's missile-lobbing exercises four years ago.
"In 1996, we responded appro-priately to what we viewed was a threat. That should give you some indication of how we view this situation," he said.
Wu said it is expected that Washington would act tough given the upcoming US presidential election in November: "If Washington does not act tough, it would look like they are endorsing China's policy," he said.
See Also
RSS