Outgoing US Secretary of Defense William Cohen has urged Taiwan and the mainland to "lower the rhetoric" on cross-strait relations and seek greater commercial relations, saying that if they do so they can "bridge those differences" that separate them.
In what amounted to a valedictory address before the National Press Club in Washington, Cohen said he received a personal assurance from Chinese President Jiang Zemin last summer that "We don't intend to use force against Taiwan."
While Jiang also said that China will "reserve the right to do so," Cohen said he felt that this was a "significant statement" that represents "some change" in Beijing's position toward Taiwan.
"I will tell you, there has been some change in China's position, at least its articulation of its position vis-a-vis Taiwan," Cohen said.
Cohen said that Jiang's statements represented a position somewhat less belligerent than that which was articulated by Beijing earlier in the year in its major defense white paper.
In that document, Beijing said essentially it would attack Taiwan under three conditions, one of which was if Taipei drags its feet indefinitely on getting cross-strait talks going again. That condition was seen at the time as a new demand on Taipei.
"In coming years, I think that the United States has to maintain the posture [that] we support the `one China' policy, we support the three communiques, and we also support our commitment to the Taiwan Relations Act -- the defensive needs of Taiwan," said Cohen, a Republican in a Democratic administration, and who has retained good ties to President-elect Bush's Cabinet choices and key aides.
"So, it's important that we articulate our commitment to Taiwan, the Taiwan Relations Act, even as we support a `one China' policy," he said.
The US has a "critical interest in seeing to it that we have a durable and stable relationship with China and a peaceful Chinese approach to Taiwan," Cohen said.
"It's why we have been pursuing military-to-military contacts that reduce the chance of misunderstanding and miscalculation ... I continue to underscore the commitment to base our future security on a coherent, comprehensive, and constructive approach to China," said Cohen.
His successor-apparent, Defense Secretary-designate Donald Rumsfeld was expected to reveal at least basic elements of the new administration's military posture toward China and Taiwan today.
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