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Officials reaffirm US' Taiwan policy

The US stands by its obligations under the Taiwan Relations Act but does not support Taiwanese independence, several US officials reiterated Thursday.

In a meeting of the Asia-Pacific Subcommittee of the House International Relations Committee on Thursday, Representative Jim Leach commented on Taiwan's government's plans to hold a referendum.

Leach said the Taiwan Strait is an area that is potentially explosive if the situation isn't handled steadily and correctly.

"There are in international affairs two words that are usually synonymous, that being self-determination and independence, but that in Taiwan you have one place in the world where they're juxtaposed, that Taiwan can have a maximum degree of self-determination if it does not declare independence. If it declares independence, its self-determination will be immediately placed in jeopardy, and the United States will be involved in ways that could be very stark," Leach said.

"So it is my understanding that there are some initiatives in Taiwan to seek referendums on an independence movement that our [American Institute in Taiwan] has suggested might be unhelpful," he said.

Leach then asked Christopher LeFleur, State Department special envoy for northeast Asia security consultations, whether supporting a referendum on Taiwan's independence would be inconsistent with US policy.

LeFleur replied, "We, of course, maintain fully our obligations under the Taiwan Relations Act. We also, of course, do not support Taiwan independence."

Leach asked Admiral Thomas Fargo, commander of the US Pacific Command, who was also present at the hearing, "This is the way that the Department of the Navy looks at it as well, is that right, Admiral Fargo?"

Fargo answered: "Yes sir. This, it's fully consistent ..."

Representative Eni F. H. Faleomavaega from American Samoa asked Fargo about the reliability of US assessments of the situation in the Taiwan Strait.

"In your best judgment, as far as lessening any miscalculations on our part, in our military structure, we are pretty good at that rate," Faleomavaega said.

"But the danger lies in miscalculations in what could happen in the Taiwan Strait and other regions of the Asia-Pacific region. What is your best assessment on the possibility of miscalculations in the Asia-Pacific region?" Faleomavaega asked.

Fargo said: "Well, I think right now it's relatively low. You know, we work very hard at this, obviously, to make sure we have clear policies, a solid deterrent posture. We aim to deter and not provoke. And those particular efforts that are reinforced by our forward posture and the manner in which we operate and deploy our forces, I think, help work toward ensuring that the potential for miscalculation is low."
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