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Bush `convinced' peace possible

US President George W. Bush said Monday that he is "convinced" that cross-strait issues can be settled peacefully despite China's deployment of some 500 missiles aimed at Taiwan. But, he added, resolution of the issues will "take some time."

Bush made his remarks in response to a question from a Taiwanese-American at a campaign event called "Ask President Bush" in the Washington suburb of Annandale, Virginia. Bush said that his administration's `one China' policy has not changed. He said the policy was "based upon the three communiques," but he neglected to add a reference to the Taiwan Relations Act, the 25-year-old law that is the cornerstone of US-Taiwan relations.

Normally, the communiques and the act are mentioned together, in a single phrase, when the US administration recites its `one China' policy.

China, on the other hand, omits any reference to the act, which it rejects.

Bush again called on both sides to maintain the status quo.

"Neither side should unilaterally change the circumstances by which a peaceful resolution will be achieved," Bush said.

Bush told the questioner that "I'm convinced this issue can be solved peacefully. It's just going to take some time to do so. And we'll continue to work to see to it that it does."

He added that "we'll keep working both sides to see if we can't see that that very important issue be resolved peacefully."

These were Bush's first extensive public comments on Taiwan issues since the inauguration of President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁). In his inaugural address, Chen bowed to US pressure not to deliver a speech that would be provocative toward Beijing.

However Beijing has raised strong objections to US plans to sell arms to Taiwan ever since the inauguration, and especially since a visit to Washington in June by a Legislative Yuan delegation headed by Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) to discuss a NT$610.8 billion (US$18.25 billion) purchase of diesel submarines, P-3C anti-submarine aircraft and PAC-3 anti-missile systems.

In an effort to quell Beijing's concerns, Bush telephoned Chinese President Hu Jintao (胡錦濤) on July 31 from Air Force One to repeat the US' commitment to a one-China policy and non-support of Taiwan's independence.

Since Chen's re-election, and especially since the inauguration, the Bush administration has been making a strong effort to promote the resumption of negotiations toward an eventual settlement of cross-strait differences. Washington has also been debating whether to take a more direct role in fostering such talks, in contrast to its traditional pledge to leave any talks up to the two sides themselves.

In his ask-Bush session, the president did not give any details of how he sees the US' role in promoting resumed dialogue. He did say, though, that it is "essential that both sides understand my position as clearly stated, and I've stated it publicly, just like I just did," adding that "I will continue to state it."

Meanwhile, the State Department confirmed that it "expressed our regret" for the fact that Taipei's new representative to the US, David Lee (李大維), was fingerprinted and photographed by security personnel when he arrived at Washington's Dulles Airport to take up his post last month.

"The acting chairman of the American Institute in Taipei expressed our regret to this mistake or mishandling at the airport, and that expression of regret was accepted," department spokesman Adam Ereli told reporters at his daily press briefing.
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