Washington has once again expressed that it welcomed President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) peace overture to Beijing spelled out in his Oct. 10 National Day speech, which called for a resumption of cross-strait dialogue.
Responding to reporters' questions at a regular press conference Thursday, US State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said that the department views Chen's speech as "a welcome and constructive message that offered some creative ideas to reduce tension and resume cross-state dialogue."
Boucher said that "we have urged both sides -- we will continue to urge both sides -- to take the opportunity to engage in dialogue in order to resolve the differences peacefully."
The spokesman did not comment when asked by a reporter about the notion that mainland China sees President Chen's speech quite differently from the US and regards it as a provocation rather than an opportunity for dialogue.
A deputy spokesman of the State Department expressed a similar welcome Oct. 10 immediately after learning about President Chen's message to China.
The State Department official said that US policies have remained unchanged -- namely firmly supporting the "one China" policy, not supporting Taiwan independence, and opposing any moves by either side that would change the status quo across the Taiwan Strait.
He said that the US has been consistent in its stance that the cross-strait differences should be solved in a peaceful way that is acceptable to the people of both sides.
President Chen took the initiative to display goodwill toward Beijing by proposing in his National Day speech that Taiwan and mainland China use the basis of the 1992 meeting in Hong Kong to seek possible schemes that are "not necessarily perfect but acceptable" as steps toward a resumption of dialogue and consultations.
Chen also called for the two sides to seriously consider the issue of "arms control" and seek to establish a "code of conduct across the Taiwan Strait" as a tangible guarantee of permanent peace since "any conflict in the Taiwan Strait would result in irreparable damage to the people on both sides."
Meanwhile, a US China hand said Thursday that Beijing's response to President Chen's peace overture was not too harsh, and that the Chinese leadership continues to want to avoid a heightening of cross-strait tensions.
Bonnie Glaser, a researcher at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), said that Beijing has long demanded that Taiwan accept the "one China" principle, which she said President Chen has not done so.
Beijing's negative response to President Chen's Double Ten National Day message was predictable, with mainland China's Taiwan Affairs Office spokesman reiterating Beijing's distrust of Chen and its demand that he accept its "one China" principle, Glaser said.
She said that Beijing's response was not "excessively harsh," and that it is trying to moderate its rhetoric toward Taiwan and lower the temperature between the two sides, adding that the new leadership in Beijing does not want heightened tensions with Taiwan and "hopes for greater stability."
Glaser pointed out that Beijing is especially displeased with the fact that Chen has successfully kicked the ball into China's court, and that the US has termed some of the content of Chen's speech as "constructive" and expressed the hope that China will respond with its own positive gestures.
She said that the US is willing to "cherry pick" the positive points from the speech -- namely his suggestions that the 1992 meeting in Hong Kong be used as a basis for moving toward a resumption of cross-strait dialogue, and that a "code of conduct across the Taiwan Strait, a confidence-building mechanism and direct cross-strait air links be established.
But China "is analyzing the speech in its entirety and finds the overall tone and many specific elements provocative," she said, adding that Beijing "is strongly opposed to Chen's statement that the Republic of China is equal to Taiwan, and his emphasis on Taiwan national identity."
Glaser also predicted that when US President George W. Bush and Chinese President Hu Jintao (胡錦濤) meet at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum meeting in Chile next month, Hu will underscore China's displeasure with US policy toward Taiwan.
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