In view of the continuing Chinese buildup of short-range missiles aimed at Taiwan, a peaceful solution to cross-strait relations "cannot be taken for granted," a senior US military official has warned.
To counter the potential threat, Washington takes "very seriously" its commitment to supply Taiwan with the arms needed to protect itself, as required in the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act, Peter Brookes, the deputy assistant secretary of defense for Asian and Pacific affairs, said in Washington on Wednesday.
Speaking at a seminar at the Brookings Institution about the George W. Bush administration's policy on Northeast Asia, Brooks was the latest of a line of senior US officials who have warned in recent months about the continuing buildup of CCS-6 and CCS-7 missiles in Fujian Province and nearby sites, which are said to now total between 350 and 400, aimed at Taiwan.
"One only has to look at the PRC's continued deployment of military forces across the Taiwan Strait to see that, regretfully, peaceful resolution cannot be taken for granted. While the PRC voices a preference for peaceful reunification, it still refuses to abandon the use of force against Taiwan as a policy option," he said.
"Of particular concern is the PLA's growing arsenal of active ballistic missiles, which are clearly designed to try to intimidate the people of the democraticallyelected government of Taiwan.
"We take very seriously our responsibility under the Taiwan Relations Act to make available to Taiwan defense articles and services that can enable it to maintain a sufficient self-defense capability," he said.
Brookes cited the TRA's key provision that "any attempt to change Taiwan's status by other than peaceful means would be of great concern to the United States and a threat to the peace and stability of the countries of the Pacific."
He said the US expects Taiwan's future to be determined "in a peaceful and mutually agreeable manner to the people on both sides of the Strait."
Brookes said that Washington wanted to develop a relationship with China that is "balanced and constructive," building on areas that they agree on but recognizing areas on which they disagree.
Among those disagreements, he noted, were "China's continued deployment of offensive missiles near Taiwan and its growing naval and air forces that focus on building capabilities that could undermine the peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait."
RSS