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Non-Tech : Lumacom Chronicles - a study of mania and madness -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: TobagoJack who wrote (77)	11/6/2003 1:16:22 AM
From: TobagoJack	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 113

Powell says China’s intentions on Taiwan unclear Thursday, November 6, 2003 china.scmp.com ASSOCIATED PRESS in Washington Updated at 11.42am: While praising Chinese co-operation on a host of international security issues, Secretary of State Colin Powell cautioned that it remains unclear whether Beijing will pursue a policy of “peace or coercion” towards Taiwan. In a speech overnight (Hk time), Mr Powell reaffirmed the US goal of a peaceful resolution of the China-Taiwan conflict and applauded the people-to-people exchanges between the two. “Yet, we have to take note of the military buildup opposite Taiwan on the mainland because that sends a very different kind of signal,” Mr Powell said. “Whether China chooses peace or coercion to resolve its differences with Taiwan will tell us a great deal about the kind of role China seeks with its neighbours and seeks with us.” Powell addressed a conference on US-China relations at Texas A and M University in College Station, Texas. A transcript was released by the State Department. The Bush administration has been viewing with increasing concern what it claims is the accelerating pace of China’s acquisition of missiles capable of reaching Taiwan. A Pentagon report issued this past summer said China has 450 short-range ballistic missiles and is adding 75 a year. The mainland has not commented on the substance of the report. It accused the Pentagon of issuing the study to justify increased US arms sales to Taiwan. Although the United States cut diplomatic ties with the island in 1979, successive US administrations have tried to ensure Taiwan’s ability to defend itself through weapons sales. Mr Powell’s overall assessment of US-China ties was unusually positive. At one point, he called the two countries “real partners.” Citing the mainland’s efforts to achieve a diplomatic solution on the North Korea situation as an example, Powell said Washington and Beijing “are cooperating and working together in ways that would have been unthinkable just a few years ago.” The Chinese initiative “inspires confidence from its own people and gains trust from the rest of the world.” Mr Powell said he was confident that, with China’s help, a diplomatic solution to the North Korea problem can be reached. The United States is seeking the permanent elimination of North Korea’s nuclear weapons programmes.