Thu, Jun 12, 2003 page8

• No need to fear Bush's Strait policy

  • By Tung Chen-yuan 童振源
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  More than two years ago, US President George W. Bush said the US would do "whatever it took" to defend Taiwan. When he met with Chinese President Hu Jintao (胡錦濤) on June 1 this year, he said to China that the US does not support Taiwan's independence but will, if necessary, help Taiwan defend herself. Given such variation in his words, has Bush's cross-strait policy changed?

  Bush's pledge in April 2001 about defending Taiwan came in response to a question about whether the US has a responsibility to defend Taiwan in the event of a Chinese military attack. Bush later warned that Taiwan should not declare independence so as to avoid provoking an attack from China. And he said the US will cooperate with Taiwan to make sure such an attack does not happen.

  In May 2001, when Bush met with Asian-American leaders, he emphasized again that the US hoped to see China and Taiwan at peace with each other and see a resolution of the dispute by peaceful means. However, should China take military action against Taiwan, he said, the US will help Taiwan. In October, when Bush met with then president Jiang Zemin (江澤民), he reiterated that the US would uphold the "one China" principle and cross-strait problems must be resolved peace-fully, and that the US would also observe the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA) and the basic position of the three joint communiques.

  In late February last year, when Bush visited China, he reiterated that the US believed cross-strait issues should be resolved by peaceful means. He said the US would urge both sides of the Strait not to provoke a conflict and would continue to observe the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA).

  When he answered the students' questions at Tsinghua University, Bush explained the US policy more clearly: the US had the TRA and he promised to abide by it. In other words, he promised to help Taiwan defend herself should Taiwan be provoked. But, the US must emphasize that neither side of the Strait should take provocative actions that would make peaceful dialogue impossible.

  The US hopes neither side of the Taiwan Strait will provoke a conflict, which means China must not take military action and Taiwan must not declare independence. Bush already expressed this position in late April 2001. At a media conference in early June last year, Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz pointed out more clearly that the US policy toward the two sides of the Strait is a "one China" policy that includes two principles: no support for Taiwan's independence and objection to the use of force in the Strait.

  In August last year, after President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) said that there is one country on each side of the Strait, a US National Security Council spokesperson again indicated that the US has a "one China" policy and does not support Taiwan's independence.

  At a news conference following his meeting with Jiang last October, Bush stressed that the US "one China" policy based on the three joint communiques and the TRA has not changed. He also said that China and Taiwan must settle their differences through peaceful dialogue. At that meeting, Bush already stated clearly that the US would not support Taiwan's independence.

  While Bush's expressions of US cross-strait policy may change, the policy itself has been consistent. Bush's cross-strait policy is subject to two documents: the three joint communiques between China and the US, and the TRA.

  Bush's cross-strait policy has three pillars: "one China," peaceful settlement of cross-strait problems through negotiations and no provocation by either side of the Strait. In accordance with the third pillar, Bush has two principles: objection to China's use of military force on Taiwan and no support for Taiwan's declaration of independence.

  To prevent China's use of force against Taiwan, Bush emphasized the commitment to Taiwan's security as stipulated in the TRA and also stated clearly that the US will help Taiwan defend itself if China tries to seize Taiwan by force.

  Bush's rigorous cross-strait policy has not changed since the beginning and will likely continue in the future. Bush's cross-strait policy is not likely to change due to anti-terrorism or the problems in the Korean Peninsula. Therefore, Taiwan should certainly not fear or misinterpret Bush's policy.

  Tung Chen-yuan is an associate research fellow at National Chengchi University's Institute of International Relations.

  Translated by Grace Shaw
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