US should reconsider its Taiwan policies
 Updated: 2004-07-14 15:01

On July 8 and 9, US National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice paid a 24-hour visit to China. At an interview by "Observer across the straits" program of the China Huayi Broadcasting Company, Prof. Zhang Tongxin, Director of the Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao Research Center of the Renmin University of China, points out that the United States should reconsider its policies toward Taiwan after Rice's visit.

Rice's visit has drawn great attention, because:

First, the United States has been adjusting its global strategy since the Iraq war. The emphasis of adjustment is eastward shift of its battle line, taking the Chinese mainland and the Korean peninsula as the focus. Recently, America reinforced its troops at the Pacific Ocean and conducted a series of military drills. These actions make people feel that new problems will definitely emerge in Sino-US relations.

Second, simultaneously with strategic adjustment, the United States has strengthened cooperation with Australia, Japan and the region of Taiwan in regard to the missile defense system, for this either treaty was signed or tacit content was given. These moves will have great impact on the Sino-US relations.

Third, many US congressmen claim to review the "one China policy", thinking that this policy should be changed. At the same time, US relationship with Taiwan authorities has further strengthened, as evidenced by Taiwan authorities' approval of a budget of 610.8 billion new Taiwan Dollars for the purchase of US weapons, and the frequent shuttle in and out of Taiwan by ranking US military officers. These make people think of this question: Is it that the United States would station troops in Taiwan along with its strategic adjustment? These moves have inflated "Taiwan independence" elements' arrogance and cast a shadow over the Sino-US relations. People are concerned about where the Sino-US relations will head for.

Fourth, general election is going to take place in the United States this winter, early in the election, in order to win more votes, Bush would take some new strategic measures to get more support, because there will be adjustments to the foreign policy on the eve of presidential election that takes place every other four years. This also causes people to doubt whether the United States is going to change its policy toward China.

Zhang Tongxin points out: The recent development of a series of current events show that some new problems have appeared in the Sino-US relations. People are greatly concerned whether these problems would mean a big retrogression of Sino-US relationship. Taiwan hopes that US adjustment of Sino-US relations would change in the direction of full support for Taiwan, Taiwan authorities also hope to get a clear-cut reply from the United States. It was precisely at such a time that Rice paid a visit to China, so it aroused great concern.

In his analysis, Zhang notes: In her China tour, Rice wanted to have the initiative in the bilateral talks, trying to focus the talks mainly on the Korean Peninsular nuclear issue, but China didn't follow her tone. Instead, China seized the initiative in the talks and focused the discussion on the Taiwan issue. With regard to US breach of the three Sino-US joint communiqu¨|s, especially "the 817 communiqu¨|", its arming of Taiwan and its constantly sending Taiwan wrong signals, the Chinese leaders clearly expressed the Chinese government's strong dissatisfaction, pointing out that the serious consequences resulting from US actions meant damaging the Sino-US relations. Under such circumstance, Rice expressed that US policy toward Taiwan remain unchanged and they don't support "Taiwan Independence". Through her trip to China, Rice came to understand China's firm stance and determination that it will never allow anybody to obstruct China's great cause of reunification; and it will never allow "Taiwan separatists" to succeed.

Zhang says, after Rice's China visit, the United States would soberly realize that if it goes too far in some of its present moves in support of Taiwan that are deviating from the three joint communiqu¨|s, the result would not necessarily be to its benefit. The deadlock between China and the United States will spur the US government to consider the problem. If the United States continues to send wrong signals to Taiwan in the present intensity of effort, then, there is the possibility that contingent event may break out across the Taiwan Straits. So, under the present circumstance, there is the need for the United States to reconsider its support to Taiwan authorities.

(People's Daily Online)

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