Reacting to US Secretary of State Colin Powell's comments this week on the upcoming referendum, the Presidential Office said yesterday that the US government's policy has not changed and that Taiwan and the US share a stance on restraining China's intention to expand its military power.
"The comments by [Powell] need to be interpreted comprehensively, not selectively or partially," Deputy Secretary General to the President Joseph Wu (
"We think that Secretary Powell's comments did not differ from the content of comments of other US officials lately, that is, the US government's Taiwan Strait policy has not changed. The US administration will not interfere with Taiwan's internal governmental affairs, nor oppose Taiwan's democratization," Wu said.
In testimony Wednesday before the international relations committee of the US House of Representatives, Powell said, "Taiwan is a democratic place. If they choose to have a referendum, they can have a referendum."
But Powell also said that "we don't really see a need for these referenda."
Wu noted that "Powell's comments in Congress have another emphasis, that is, they show opposition to the EU lifting its embargo on sales of arms to China."
"Regarding this point, Taiwan should express appreciation. Because the common stance of both Taiwan and the US is to preserve peace in the Taiwan Strait and the Asia-Pacific region, the demand that China reduce its military capability is exactly President Chen [Shui-bian's] (陳水扁) intention in holding the peace referendum," Wu said.
As to whether Powell's comments and other countries' continuing concerns mean that Chen's referendum plan is under international pressure, Wu said that the referendum has made the "`status quo on both sides of the strait' a focus of international attention. Taiwan should carefully and actively explain this to other countries. This is a natural trend.
"In the past, many countries didn't understand the threat Taiwan was facing nor China's strategy, and now they are willing to express concern to a certain degree," Wu said.
"Taiwanese people should not regard all this as detrimental because the international community is also looking at China's actions," Wu said.
"The international community may be cautious about Taiwan's referendum but they are more concerned about whether China will do something irrational," Wu said.
Meanwhile, Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) said that Powell's comments were a declaration of a stance that is balanced toward both sides of the strait, and that the longer the situation develops, the more beneficial it will be for Taiwan.
"The peace referendum is like a solemn declaration by a couple at their wedding, which will prevent disruption by a third party," Lu said yesterday at the Presidential Office.
"In the face of China's two-handed strategy, President Chen also needs to counter it with a `peace and war' two-handed referendum strategy," she said.
Another Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) leader interpreted Powell's comments optimistically, saying that "the US has already endorsed Taiwan's referendum."
Lee Chun-yee (
"Powell's speech clearly demonstrates that the US has clarified its stance that no country should interfere with other countries' right to hold referendums," Lee said.
"The content of his speech indicates that the US has found an equilibrium between its own interests and Taiwan's development," Lee said.
"While the US understands that it should respect Taiwan's democracy, the [pan-blue] alliance tries in every way to prevent the referendum in Taiwan from being held," Lee said.
"Such actions are wrong and we hope that the [pan-blue] alliance won't hinder the development of Taiwan's democracy," Lee said.
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