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US says it's capable of keeping cross-strait peace

A top George W. Bush administration official, reacting to an apparent rise in cross-strait tensions, has said that the US is more than capable militarily to keep the peace in the Taiwan Strait if needed.

"We have full faith that the question of Taiwan will be resolved peacefully, and it is on this premise that we base our policy regarding Taiwan and the People's Republic of China," Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage said in Washington on Tuesday.

He was responding to reporters' questions about shrill comments made by Chinese officials and reported in the Chinese press in recent days warning Taiwan about the possibility of dire consequences over President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) recent political pronouncements and plans for a referendum and new constitution.

The Taiwan Relations Act, he said, "requires the United States to keep sufficient force in the Asia Pacific area to be able to keep the area calm," he said. "And we have good, competent military forces there."

Armitage refused to be drawn into a discussion about the extent to which the US would defend Taiwan in case of a crisis.

"It would be foolish for me to try to answer a hypothetical question. When something happens, ask me and I'll let you know," he said.

Armitage played down the political statements Chen has been making lately that China has interpreted as moves toward Taiwan's independence.

"There's an election and campaign going on in Taiwan, and I think that one shouldn't over-emphasize comments that are made in the heat of an election," he said.

"I think this will pass, and I think that all of us who have responsibilities in this area should make sure we don't add any fuel to the fire," he said.

Armitage's remarks represent the second time in two days that the State Department has issued statements to try to play down the increasingly shrill cross-strait dialogue of recent days and weeks.

State Department spokesman Richard Boucher on Monday called on both sides to "refrain from actions or statements that increase tension."

However, China yesterday threatened that "the use of force may become unavoidable" if Tai-wan pursues independence, its strongest statement in years.

But Wang Zaixi (王在希), a top Chinese official who deals with the Taiwan issue, also said China felt close to the Taiwanese people and was "not willing to meet at the battleground."

Wang, vice minister of the State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office,said curbing Taiwan's efforts toward independence is the main goal of China, which will go to war if necessary.

"If the Taiwan authorities collude with all splittist forces to openly engage in pro-independence activities and challenge the mainland and the `one China' principle, the use of force may become unavoidable," Wang was quoted as saying in the China Daily.

Separatists were "set to pay a high cost if they think we will not use force," Wang said. "Taiwan independence means war."

Meanwhile, Armitage came to the defense of American Institute in Taiwan Chairperson Therese Shaheen for recent remarks that have raised the hackles of both China and some in Taiwan.

"I haven't had any reason to be critical of her," Armitage said. "If she's getting criticized from both sides, she probably has got it about right," he said.

Beijing has criticized Shaheen for saying during Chen's recent New York City stopover that Bush is Chen and Taiwan's "guardian angel," and had been criticized by Taiwan defense officials for reported remarks in Washington over the weekend that Taiwan is "silly" to want to buy eight diesel submarines offered by the US when other weapons systems would be more useful.

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