Minister of Foreign Affairs Eugene Chien (
In his first clear explanation of the US attitude toward the referendum since the meeting between US President George W. Bush and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (
The US said voting on the two referendum issues proposed by President Chen Shui-bian (
PHOTO: CHIANG YING-YING, TAIPEI TIMES
The US said a referendum that cannot change the situation or China's policy would be meaningless, Chien said.
Chien made the remarks in a breakfast meeting with lawmakers from the pro-independence Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU), who protested to the American Institute in Taiwan over Bush's public rebuke of Chen during his meeting with Wen.
National Security Council Deputy Secretary-General Antonio Chiang (
Chiang said that although the US did not disapprove of the referendum asking China to dismantle its missiles targeting Taiwan, it said a more consequential item should be voted on.
"Otherwise the US would view the referendum issue as incomplete," Chiang said.
The US has said it hoped Taiwan could offer to hold a referendum on direct links between Taiwan and China -- transportation, commerce and postal service -- if China agreed to remove its missiles, according to TSU whip Liao Pen-yen (廖本煙), adding the plan would provide Beijing with an incentive to remove the missile threat.
Liao said the US request would make Taiwan's referendum more meaningful.
"The US proposal [on direct links] does not involve the independence or unification problem," Liao said.
Commenting on the development of relations between China, Taiwan and the US after the Bush-Wen meeting, Chien insisted that "Taiwan-US ties remain unaffected."
China-US relations, Chien said, have moved out of the past ambiguity and proceeded to clarity. The two countries have turned from strategic competitors to strategic partners, he said.
Facing worries about the future of Taiwan-US relations, Chiang said the government is "contemplating the last step and making the best preparations."
Addressing TSU lawmakers' concerns about whether China would use force against Taiwan if a referendum is held, Chiang said things so far appeared "safe enough."
Both Chien and Chiang said the US, in order to maintain cross-strait stability, would not alter its policy, adding that it does not wish to see any unilateral moves by Taiwan or China to change the status quo.
Also See Story:
Demonstrators criticize Bush for bowing to China
AIR DEFENSE: The Norwegian missile system has proved highly effective in Ukraine in its war against Russia, and the US has recommended it for Taiwan, an expert said The Norwegian Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS) Taiwan ordered from the US would be installed in strategically important positions in Taipei and New Taipei City to guard the region, the Ministry of National Defense said in statement yesterday. The air defense system would be deployed in Taipei’s Songshan District (松山) and New Taipei City’s Tamsui District (淡水), the ministry said, adding that the systems could be delivered as soon as the end of this year. The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency has previously said that three NASAMS would be sold to Taiwan. The weapons are part of the 17th US arms sale to
SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS: The suspects formed spy networks and paramilitary groups to kill government officials during a possible Chinese invasion, prosecutors said Prosecutors have indicted seven retired military officers, members of the Rehabilitation Alliance Party, for allegedly obtaining funds from China, and forming paramilitary groups and assassination squads in Taiwan to collaborate with Chinese troops in a possible war. The suspects contravened the National Security Act (國家安全法) by taking photos and drawing maps of key radar stations, missile installations and the American Institute in Taiwan’s headquarters in Taipei, prosecutors said. They allegedly prepared to collaborate with China during a possible invasion of Taiwan, prosecutors said. Retired military officer Chu Hung-i (屈宏義), 62, a Republic of China Army Academy graduate, went to China
INSURRECTION: The NSB said it found evidence the CCP was seeking snipers in Taiwan to target members of the military and foreign organizations in the event of an invasion The number of Chinese spies prosecuted in Taiwan has grown threefold over a four-year period, the National Security Bureau (NSB) said in a report released yesterday. In 2021 and 2022, 16 and 10 spies were prosecuted respectively, but that number grew to 64 last year, it said, adding that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) was working with gangs in Taiwan to develop a network of armed spies. Spies in Taiwan have on behalf of the CCP used a variety of channels and methods to infiltrate all sectors of the country, and recruited Taiwanese to cooperate in developing organizations and obtaining sensitive information
BREAKTHROUGH: The US is making chips on par in yield and quality with Taiwan, despite people saying that it could not happen, the official said Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電) has begun producing advanced 4-nanometer (nm) chips for US customers in Arizona, US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo said, a milestone in the semiconductor efforts of the administration of US President Joe Biden. In November last year, the commerce department finalized a US$6.6 billion grant to TSMC’s US unit for semiconductor production in Phoenix, Arizona. “For the first time ever in our country’s history, we are making leading edge 4-nanometer chips on American soil, American workers — on par in yield and quality with Taiwan,” Raimondo said, adding that production had begun in recent
RSS