“We just have to make sure that military adventures are unattractive,” he said.
In related news, newly appointed US Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg said on Thursday that the US welcomes closer cross-strait ties and would continue to support both sides’ efforts to overcome their differences through peaceful means.
Steinberg made the remarks in Washington while attending the annual National Council for Visitors, where Obama’s foreign policy was described.
Steinberg served as deputy national security adviser during the second term of former US president Bill Clinton, and during the 1996 Taiwan Missile Crisis he met with Taiwan’s National Security Council Secretary-General Ting Mao-shih (丁懋時), creating the primary channel of communication between the two nation’s national security agencies.
Asked what he thought about the current cross-strait situation, Steinberg said that the US would keep a watchful eye on Taiwan-China relations, as they are one of the most important issues on Washington’s foreign affairs agenda.
Steinberg said the US has maintained the same cross-strait policy for more than 30 years, as it has served the best interests of the parties involved and has helped maintain peace and stability in the area.
The interaction between the people, the closer economic ties and the increasing cultural exchanges between Taiwan and China are remarkable achievements for the leaders of the two sides, Steinberg said.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY CNA
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