US reaffirms its 'one China' policy
The US has reaffirmed its commitment to a “one China” policy and its opposition to any moves by Beijing or Taiwan that would change the status quo.
The statement today came a day after Sun Weide, the Chinese Embassy spokesman, called in reporters to complain about US support for Taiwan.
The American policy recognises the Beijing government as the only legitimate Chinese government, although the US also has pledged to provide enough defensive equipment to Taiwan to assure its security.
State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said that the US was committed to the policy based on three joint communiqués the two governments have issued over the years as well as the Taiwan Relations Act, which permits arms sales to the island off the Chinese mainland.
“For Beijing that means no use of force or other forms of coercion against Taiwan,” Boucher said. “For Taipei, it means exercising prudence in managing all aspects of cross-Straits relations.”
He said the US does not support Taiwan independence.
China says it worries that US support is encouraging activists who want to make Taiwan’s de facto independence permanent – a step that Beijing says would lead to war.
Boucher said both China and Taiwan should refrain from statements or actions that would unilaterally alter Taiwan’s status.
He said the US would continue the sale of appropriate defensive military equipment to Taiwan in accordance with the Taiwan Relations Act.
Boucher said national security adviser Condoleezza Rice clearly expressed US policy on Taiwan to Chinese officials when she visited Beijing earlier this month, as have other US officials in meetings with the Chinese.
On Tuesday, Sun, the embassy spokesman, expressed China’s ”grave concern” at US policy on Taiwan and called for an end to arms sales to Taiwan. Relations with Washington could become strained, he warned.
Washington has no formal relations with Taiwan but the US is its main arms supplier and protector.
China has promised to seek peaceful reunification with Taiwan, which split from the mainland after its communist takeover in 1949.
