Bush's Taiwan Comments a Move on `Dangerous Road' -- FM Spokeswoman

China warned US President George W. Bush that he was moving into dangerous area with his pledge that the US will do "whatever it takes" to defend Taiwan.

"It shows that the US side has drifted further on a dangerous road," Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue told a routine news briefing Thursday afternoon in Beijing.

"As to the comments made by President Bush, we have expressed that the Chinese Government and people are strongly indignant and opposed to them," she added.

On Wednesday, Bush said that the United States will do "whatever it takes" to defend Taiwan during an interview with ABC News.

However the president later clarified his comments in an interview with CNN and insisted there was no change in the US policy towards Taiwan.

"Taiwan is not a protectorate of any foreign country," said Zhang. "It is an integral part of China."

(Chinadaily.com.cn News 04/26/2001)