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US strategic defense report hails Taiwan's democracy

US defense strategy ■ In a 33-page document on strategic policy, the US cites Taiwan's democracy as an example of the principles it wishes to foster around the world. ■ The document also reaffirms US defense commitments to Taiwan, citing the ``Taiwan issue'' as a major area of disagreement with China. ■ It also cites Taiwan's WTO entry as part of efforts to promote free trade.

The George W. Bush administration has pointed to Taiwan's democracy as a prime example of the principles the US seeks to foster around the world and has reaffirmed Washing-ton's defense commitment to Tai-wan as part of that new strategic worldview.

The comments came in Friday's "National Security Strategy of the United States of America," which detailed the administration's new policy for meeting global threats by maintaining invincible military superiority. The document moves the US away from the Cold War strategy of deterrence and containment.

The "first imperative" for attaining these goals, the document says, is to "clarify what we stand for: the United States must defend liberty and justice ... for all people everywhere.

"When we see democratic pro-cesses take hold among our friends in Taiwan ... we see examples of how authoritarian systems can evolve, marrying local history and traditions with the principles we all cherish," the document says in its opening chapter.

Taiwan merits two other mentions in the 33-page strategic policy document.

In a section in which the administration says it seeks ways to improve relations with China as Washington pays more attention to the threats posed by world terrorism, the strategy pronouncement nevertheless points to the Taiwan issue as a main area of "profound disagreements."

"Our commitment to the self-defense of Taiwan under the Taiwan Relations Act is one [such disagreement]," the document says.

"We will work to narrow differences [with China] where they exist, but not allow them to preclude cooperation where we agree," the report said.

The document also points to the fact that Washington "has led the way" toward the accession of "a democratic Taiwan to the World Trade Organization," as part of its overall strategy of promoting global economic growth through free trade.

The publication of the document, which was released in the form of an annual report to Con-gress, was the culmination of an administration reassessment of the US' strategic posture since the Sept. 11 attacks.

While some in Washington say that policy has been tested by President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) Aug. 3 comments on Taiwan sovereignty and the need for a referendum on Taiwan's future, the security strategy was finalized in the wake of those statements.
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