Responding to secessionist statements by Taiwan leader Chen
Shui-bian, the US stated on Monday that it will not "support
'independence' for Taiwan."
"President Bush has repeatedly underscored his opposition to
unilateral changes to the status quo by either Taipei or Beijing
because these threaten regional peace and stability, US national
interests and Taiwan's own welfare," said State Department
spokesman Sean McCormack during his daily press briefing.
In 2000 and 2004, Chen vowed to not "declare independence,
change the national title, push for inclusion of sovereignty themes
in the constitution, or promote a referendum to change the status
quo in regard to the questions of independence and unification,"
McCormack noted.
These commitments and how Chen keeps to them will provide "a
test of leadership, dependability and statesmanship and of his
ability to protect Taiwan's interests ... and to maintain peace and
stability in the Strait," said McCormack.
"Rhetoric bringing these commitments into doubt is unhelpful,"
the spokesman added.
McCormack was responding to Chen's statements in Taipei over the
weekend that he sought "independence," a new constitution, and
dropping the word "China" from titles of local firms.
A spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council
also attacked Chen for his "Taiwan independence" remark, marking it
another dangerous step toward secession.
Chen's persistent attempts at seeking "Taiwan independence"
through "constitutional reform" form a major threat to peace and
stability across the Taiwan Straits and for the whole Asia-Pacific
region, the spokesman said.
Taiwan newspapers yesterday also jumped on the anti-Chen
bandwagon, with the Taiwan Commercial Times saying that his
"aggressive, crass and volatile political claims" went against the
wishes of most Taiwan people.
(China Daily March 7, 2007)
