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Strategies & Market Trends : China Warehouse- More Than Crockery -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: RealMuLan who wrote (1786)	12/7/2003 11:38:26 PM
From: RealMuLan	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 6370

US tries to diffuse tensions by warning Taiwan not to push China too far By Channel NewsAsia US Correspondent Judith Smelser WASHINGTON, US: The US is trying to help diffuse tensions over a new Taiwanese law that could pave the way for a referendum on the island's sovereignty. China has warned it will do whatever it takes to defend its territorial integrity. Advertisement The Bush Administration has plenty of reasons to want to avoid a crisis as it is Taiwan's biggest arms supplier and most important ally. Less than two years ago, President George Bush promised to do "whatever it took" to defend the island. It was one of the strongest pro-Taiwan statement the US had ever made. But on Monday, the US State Department warned Taiwan not to push China too far. Said Richard Boucher, US State Department Spokesman: "We would be opposed to any referenda that would change Taiwan's status or move towards independence. The United States has always held, and again reiterates, that cross-Strait dialogue is essential to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait area." Washington supports Taiwanese democracy but only within the confines of the so-called "one-China" policy. The US wants both sides to preserve the status quo and to work out their differences through dialogue. But now, China wants the US to unequivocally declare opposition to Taiwanese independence - something it has so far refrained from doing. And the growing ties between Washington and Beijing might make America more inclined to comply. For one thing, the US wants China's help in resolving the standoff over North Korea's nuclear weapons program. Beijing has suggested it may use that fact as a bargaining chip. Gary Schmitt, Executive Director, Project For The New American Century, said: "You also saw them begin to tie, rather directly I think, cooperation with the US on North Korea as a quid pro quo with cooperation by the US on Taiwan." A conservative analyst, Mr Schmitt believes the White House may be susceptible to Beijing's pressure. In addition, the US military is stretched very thin, with its commitments in Iraq and Afghanistan. Analysts say Washington would be wary of jumping into yet another conflict espeically if Taiwan had done something to provoke it. Security Analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Derek Mitchell, said: "President Bush has said we will do whatever it takes to defend Taiwan but that doesn't mean a blank check on whatever Taiwan does that we will be there behind them to sacrifice American lives so that Taiwan can go its own way or feel good about its own sovereign interest." The rising tensions in the Taiwan Straits come just ahead of a highly anticipated visit to Washington by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao. Taiwan is now at the top of his agenda. Political analysts in the US and China believe Mr Wen will press President Bush to officially come out against Taiwan's independence. If President Bush refuses, the depth of US-China cooperation may be called into question. - CNA Copyright © 2003 MCN International Pte Ltd channelnewsasia.com