The US Secretary of State Colin Powell made a rare comment in Beijing Monday that China's Taiwan is not a "sovereign state." The comment raised outside attention. Experts on the Taiwan question in Beijing believe Powell's comment has undoubtedly been the most well-meaning expression to Beijing since the Bush administration took office nearly four year ago. It was also a sharp warning to the "Taiwan independence" force on the island.  

Constructive role in checking 'Taiwan independence'

Chu Shulong, director of the Strategy Research Institute at Tsinghua University, said during an interview that Powell's statements were an important accomplishment of his visit to China, which are of constructive significance in checking "Taiwan independence," improving and developing China-US relations. Chu believes Powell's visit to China was very successful. During the meeting he voluntarily explained to China the arms sales to Taiwan. "It indicates that the US government realized the importance of the Taiwan question. It also shows US' respect for China's core interest," said Chu.

Chu Jingtao, research fellow at the Taiwan Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, highly praised Powell's comment. He believes Powell's comment made on Taiwan Retrocession Day (Oct. 25) to check "Taiwan independence" force has a pushing effect on the relationship across the Straits. He pointed out that from Powell's comment we can see the US does not want to see the "Taiwan independence" force go too fast and wants it to restrain itself.

Talking about the connection between Powell's comment and the US presidential election Chu Shulong believes Powell's comment has no direct connection with the US election. The Bush administration would not gain or lose votes because of this comment.

Powell's remarks on Taiwan indicate no policy change

Commenting on the remarks that "the two sides across the Taiwan Straits will finally unite" and "Taiwan doesn't enjoy the sovereignty of a state" made by Powell during his visit, experts on the Taiwan question in Beijing said these are upsetting words for Taiwan separatists, but meanwhile pointed out that the remarks don't indicate any major change in US policy towards Taiwan, Hong Kong-based Ta Kung Pao reported Tuesday.

The report quoted Li Jiaquan, expert on Taiwan question, as saying that Powell's remarks are innovative, since the US policy towards Taiwan is always to maintain the status quo, while "two sides will finally unite" is rarely mentioned.

We cannot be over optimistic about what Powell said, Li analyzed, for we must have a clear understanding of the motive and considerations behind the remarks. It would be a fatal strike on "Taiwan independence" if the United States indeed makes the policy adjustment out of consideration for long-term cross-Straits relations.

At a critical moment in presidential election, the United States hopes to maintain a mild, stable situation in the Taiwan Straits, said Li. But the recent deeds by Chen Shui-bian and separatist forces surely roused US attention. Besides, the United States needs Chinese support in anti-terror and the Korean nuclear issue, so it doesn't expect troubles in ties with China caused by Taiwan separatists.

The US long-term strategy towards Taiwan can hardly be changed at one stroke, Li pointed out.

The US government's stance on maintaining stability across the Taiwan Straits will not change even if John Kerry wins the election, observed Tao Wenzhao, expert on US questions from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, according to HK-based China News Agency report.

Professor Niu Jun from International Relations School, Peking University said the remarks are not the first of its kind Powell made, and the US side has shown a clearer and clearer attitude towards "Taiwan independence" in recent days. On one hand, as internal changes in Taiwan speed up, the US feels the possibility of losing control over the situation is increasing. On the other hand, China has given much pressure on the US over its arms sales to Taiwan, but the policy in this regard is impossible to be loosened within Bush's term. When Powell reaffirmed opposition to "Taiwan independence," his intention was to clarify that there was no relations between arms sales to Taiwan and support to the island's independence.

Hardest remark ever made by US: Taiwan 'foreign minister'

Commenting on Powell's remark that "Taiwan is not a state of independent sovereignty," Taiwan "foreign minister" Chen Tan-sun said this is the "hardest remark" ever made by the United States so far.

According to Taiwan-based "central news agency," Chen also declared at the same time that Taiwan's status as a "sovereign state" was a fact that cannot be erased whether before or after Taiwan's withdrawal from the United Nations.

Chen said he would get to know as soon as possible why Powell made such remarks, and Taiwan's "representative stationed in the US" would also give details to the Taiwan authority promptly.

(People's Daily October 29, 2004)