US Secretary of State Colin Powell has lent his support to Taiwan's participation in the World Health Organization, but has stopped short of a pledge to push for an observer role for the country in the upcoming meeting of the World Health Assembly.
Powell made his comments on Wednesday as he testified before the International Relations Committee in the US House of Representatives.
PHOTO: AP
"We believe there are ways -- and I have to review this -- but the government's position over the years has been there should be ways for Taiwan to enjoy full benefits of participation without being a member," Powell said, responding to a question by Representative Sherrod Brown.
Last month, Brown introduced a bill requiring the Secretary of State to devise a plan to endorse and obtain observer status for Taiwan at the week-long assembly, which is scheduled for May in Geneva.
Brown told the hearing that 41 House members, both Democrats and Republicans, have co-sponsored the bill.
While the bill has not moved in the international relations committee yet, supporters are hoping to get it to the floor of the House using a fast-track procedure, in time for the May meeting.
The Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Washington has made participation in WHO meetings a priority issue this year.
Powell noted that US policy has been that membership in international organizations that require statehood be reserved for China.
However, he said, "the past policy has been, which seems to have served the nation well, to find ways for Taiwan to participate without belonging to these international organizations."
Last year, Brown noted, both the House and Senate approved resolutions supporting Taiwan's eventual entry into the WHO.
"Many of us were disappointed, in spite of these congressional efforts, that the former administration did nothing," despite a 1994 Taiwan policy review that led the Bill Clinton administration to declare its intention to support Taiwan's participation in some international organizations.
In other comments, Powell said that the Bush administration's overall China policy "will all be within the context of the Taiwan Relations Act and the three communiques," which, among other things, says the US should supply defensive weapons to Taiwan.
"Under no circumstances will we ever tolerate anything that changes the status of Taiwan unless it is being changed as a result of open, free, balanced negotiations between the two parties, which is what was anticipated by the original Taiwan Relations Act and the three communiques and President Nixon's opening back in 1972," he said.
Powell also reiterated the Bush administration's recognition of the "one China" principle.
Taiwan is expected to be a major topic of discussion when China's Vice Premier Qian Qichen (
Powell said he will tell Qian "we don't view them as an enemy and don't wish to make them an enemy, but at the same time, we have to be realistic about the relationship."
The administration's approach, he said, is "we understand you have interests, we have interests. Let's talk about our interests. Where they are common, we can move forward. Where they diverge or where we disagree, let's talk about the disagreement."
Washington must show Beijing "coherence and consistency over time," Powell said.
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