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Relations with US good, president's office stresses

The Presidential Office yesterday stressed that Taiwan's stance in maintaining the cross-strait quo is identical to that of the US government, and that the relationship between the two countries remains sound.

"To maintain cross-strait stability and peace is the main goal of President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) administration," said James Huang (黃志芳), the Presidential Office spokesman. "And this position is identical to the US government's position."

Huang stressed that the president's stance has been clear and consistent ever since he made it known in in his inauguration speech more than three years ago and that Chen's position leaves no room for any dubious interpretations.

Huang's remarks were in response to the US government's latest statement, which urged Taiwan and China to refrain from actions or statements that would increase tensions between the two countries or make dialogue more difficult to achieve.

While stressing that Chen's commitment to stability is clear, Huang added that the mutual-trust between Taiwan and the US remains satisfactory.

"The communication between the two countries are open and the relationship is firm, and will not be impacted by any incidental events," Huang said.

He also pointed out that the government has noted the stories in some media that he says misreported the facts about closed-door talks between two the governments' officials. He said the stories were wrong about the US government's attitude toward Taiwan's proposal to carry out a national referendum.

"The Presidential Office has to express regret about some local media's over-interpreted reports recently, which made a wrong judgment based on incorrect information," he said.

Some local press reported last week that when high-ranking officials at the American Institute in Taiwan met with Chen and other Taiwanese officials last week, the Americans openly disagreed with the government's proposal to hold a national referendum.

However, Chen has denied such reports, saying that such speculations were completely incorrect.

Another high-ranking official at the Presidential Office reaffirmed yesterday that the US government did express its concerns about the referendum issue.

But, he added, such concerns should not be regarded as either "pressure" or "opposition."

"The US has long-held concerns about the possibility of us holding a referendum in Taiwan," said the official, "and this time what the US really wants to ask is whether the referendum will involve the independence issue," the official said.

"Therefore, the government will enhance efforts to understand the US government's attitude as well as to ensure our stance will not be misunderstood," he said.

The official also stressed that the US government is in no position to interfere in Taiwan's domestic policy, especially the since the right to hold a referendum is a basic right in any democratic country -- including the US itself.
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