The US welcomed the cessation of military exercises by Taiwan and China Tuesday, but declined to comment on reports that the actions by Taipei and Beijing were the result of US intervention.
State Department spokesman Richard Boucher told reporters that "we welcome and encourage all these steps that are being taken by Taiwan and the People's Republic of China to reduce tensions."
But, asked whether Washington requested either country to scrub the exercises, Boucher said only, "For further information on that, you'd have to check with the Taiwan authorities."
"We have consistently encouraged both sides to take steps to resolve differences, to engage in dialogue, and to take steps to reduce tensions," Boucher said in response to questions at his daily press briefing.
President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) announced the cancelation of the annual Han Kuang military exercises after receiving word that China had pulled troops, planes and ships from Dongshan Island off the China coast, where they had been massing in preparation for annual Chinese military exercises.
Chinese media had said the exercises were planned to practice invading an island, which the government had taken as a provocative move to express displeasure with Chen's constitutional plans.
Chen made the announcement on his plane as he left for a trip to Latin America with stopovers in Hawaii and Seattle. Meanwhile, Boucher said there are no plans for US Secretary of State Colin Powell to meet with Chen in Panama, where both were to attend the inauguration of president-elect Marin Torrijo yesterday.
Boucher conceded that both Powell and Chen will both be at the same event, but added that "there is no meeting planned."
For Powell and Chen, the event will be a reminder of the date in November lsat year when both were in Panama to celebrate the 100th anniversary of that country's independence.
At one event, as Powell was in deep conversation with actor Sean Connery, a Taiwan supporter, Chen tapped Powell on the shoulder, introduced himself and shook his hand.
Powell and Chen then held a brief conversation that dealt with "pleasantries," according to one report.
The US state department later reported that "they exchanged greetings. There were no official meetings scheduled between the two, and none took place."
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