The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday thanked US Secretary of State Colin Powell for trying to persuade China to resume talks with Taiwan during his visit to Beijing.
Powell, who met Chinese Pres-ident Hu Jintao (
Chen called for dialogue with Beijing in his Double Ten National Day address.
The Chinese leadership, however, "did not find his [Chen's] statement to be that forthcoming," Powell said, acknowledging that his efforts to bring China to negotiate with Taiwan have not been successful.
"We understand Mr. Powell's concerns about peace in the region. Both sides [Taiwan and China] share responsibility for peace in the region. We thank Mr. Powell for his efforts and good-will," said foreign ministry spokes-man Michel Lu (
"It is regrettable that China rejected Mr. Powell's suggestion. We hope China can adopt a practical attitude and new ways of thinking to respond to President Chen's call for talks," Lu said.
"The US sells us weapons for our defense according to the Taiwan Relations Act," Lu said.
Mainland Affairs Council Vice Chairman Chiu Tai-san (
In an interview published in the latest issue of the Far Eastern Economic Review, which Powell gave before his Asian trip, he said he would not carry any assurances to China on Taiwan beyond the US' "one China" policy.
"Our `one China' policy has allowed us to build a good relationship with China. It has also allowed us to have a good relationship with Taiwan," he said.
Powell said from time to time, people to try to penetrate the "very useful ambiguity" that is built into the policy.
"But the ambiguity has served us all, and very, very well, and the policy is intact," Powell said, adding: "in response to certain churnings about independence we made it very, very clear that we do not support independence."
"Taiwan independence will not serve the interests of the region, Powell said.
"Any movement in that direction of a serious nature has the potential for creating a real crisis in the region, and nobody benefits from that," he said.
The US secretary of state also said he believed it is enough to keep a lid on the present cross-strait situation for the foreseeable future.
Powell noted the last thing anyone should want to see would be any action on either side that disrupts the situation and the equilibrium.
"And so we have tried to speak evenly to both sides not to take actions which would put this policy at risk or create a crisis in the region, either by excessive build-ups on the mainland or by excessive rhetoric or reaction on Tai-wan," he said.
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