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Taiwan at center of latest U.S.-China debateBush pledge to defend Taiwan against attack triggers Beijing reaction
BEIJING, China -- Whatever common ground, and mutual benefit, they could find in the last half-century or so, China and the United States have had one boiling issue threatening to tear them apart: Taiwan. The trouble has been brewing ever since a Communist takeover of mainland China in 1949 forced Nationalist leader Chiang Kai-shek and his backers to the island of Taiwan. The tension between democratic Taipei and communist Beijing, which considers Taiwan a renegade province, has produced a major dilemma for the United States and other Western countries.
For nearly three decades, the United States has had an intentionally vague policy on the issue, working with both nations but refusing to acknowledge favoritism or intent to protect one or the other. But this week, President George W. Bush broke that silence by saying he would commit U.S. forces to defend Taiwan if Beijing attacked. China responded emphatically to Bush's words by warning that the United States is heading "further down a dangerous road." Bush should "take back his comments," as well as cancel the planned arms sale to Taiwan -- the biggest such sale to the island in a decade -- Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhang Qiyue said Thursday. Defense meets 'one-China policy'On Wednesday, Bush told CNN that he would send U.S. forces to defend Taiwan, but said he hopes China and Taiwan can reconcile peacefully. Earlier in the week, Bush told ABC he would do "whatever it took" to protect Taiwan from a Chinese invasion, even to the point of using U.S. troops. In his CNN interview, he said those comments should not be seen as an endorsement of independence for Taiwan. "Our nation will help Taiwan defend itself," he said. "At the same time, we support the one-China policy, and we expect the dispute to be resolved peacefully." Experts say Bush's assertions may give Taiwan new comfort, and new reason to declare its independence officially from Beijing. But such a declaration "is not part of the one-China policy," Bush said. The president's remarks are seen to have gone past previous official U.S. statements on Taiwan, which were ambiguous for strategic reasons. Past statements from Washington have only warned a Chinese attack on Taiwan would be of "grave concern." Reaction strong in ChinaA commentary in the People's Daily, Beijing's official newspaper, called Bush's statement "wild." It said the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act -- in which the United States pledged to continue "commercial, cultural, and other relations" with Taiwan despite formally recognizing the Beijing as China's legitimate government -- did not authorize American use of military means to defend the island. Analysts say Beijing is reminding Washington through diplomatic channels that Bush's stance contradicts previous U.S. policy. Beijing is also telling U.S. officials that American public opinion would not support the use of American troops to help Taiwan, given the possibility of casualties.
Peking University professor Pan Wei said Bush would not be so "stupid" as to end America's intentionally vague policy. "A commitment to defend Taiwan means the U.S. will lose the initiative, as it may be dragged into war by Taiwan," Pan said. "Washington will be led by the nose (by pro-independence elements in Taiwan). It would be a joke if two major powers were to go to war through the machinations of a small island." Bush's statement was front-page news in Taiwan, where the Taipei government cautiously welcomed the president's pledge.
Tension triggers Asia jittersThe verbal exchange comes at a tense time in U.S.-China relations. Not only did the Bush administration recently approve a massive arms sale to Taiwan, it also allowed former Taiwanese president Lee Teng-hui to visit the United States. Lee cancelled the trip on Thursday, citing health reasons. And tensions remain high over the mid-air collision of a U.S. reconnaissance plane and a Chinese fighter jet on April 1 over the South China Sea. Beijing detained the U.S. plane's 24-member crew for 11 days after the incident, and a Chinese pilot was killed. The two sides remain in talks over the return of the U.S. plane and the issue of U.S. surveillance missions near China. Some experts fear Bush's statements and the U.S. arms sale to Taiwan may set off a series of events that may lead to a greater military presence by both sides in the Taiwan Strait.
RELATED STORIES: Bush: Taiwan defense pledge no change in policy RELATED SITES: Taiwanese Government Information Office | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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