US Secretary of State Colin Powell's change of phrase in a television interview yesterday does not indicate that he has retracted an earlier denial of Taiwan's sovereignty, pan-blue officials said yesterday.
"Powell did not actually say himself that he misspoke nor did he retract his earlier remarks. I don't see how his interview makes any difference," Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) spokesperson Chang Jung-kung (
Powell created a political shockwave when he strayed from Washington's long-standing policy in two different television interviews on Monday.
In the interviews, Powell denied that Taiwan is a sovereign nation and said that the US hoped for a "peaceful reunification" of China and Taiwan.
Speaking on the US network CNBC on Wednesday, Powell changed tack, referring to "a peaceful resolution of the problem" between Taiwan and China, but did mention or clarify his previous comments about cross-strait "reunification."
Since Monday, opposition parties have seized upon Powell's remarks as proof that the actions of President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) administration have antagonized Taiwan-US relations and increased tensions across the Taiwan Strait.
Pan-blue parties were left similarly unimpressed by Powell's latest interview.
"The PFP [People First Party] holds to its prior position about Powell's comments. We are now tasting the consequences of Chen's policies. All I can say is that the Democratic Progressive Party [DPP] government has shown lousy implementation of foreign policy and has isolated Taiwan," PFP spokesperson Hwang Yih-jiau (黃義交) said yesterday.
Despite Powell's seeming change of heart on Wednesday, Hwang said he believed that Powell's original comments still stand.
Chang agreed.
"So what if he [Powell] said that the US is hoping for a `peaceful resolution?' Of course it does; would it want an un-peaceful resolution?" Chang said.
Taiwan should take Powell's original comments as the possible consensus of the US leadership and bring about a policy change accordingly, Chang said.
Meanwhile, Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) said that Powell's remarks and actions reminded him of "similar things that happened when the US broke off diplomatic relations with Taiwan."
"Powell chose to be interviewed by CNN and Phoenix TV. While CNN broadcasts to the whole world, Phoenix TV speaks to the Chinese community worldwide. Powell's remarks have also been published on the US State Department's Web site, and the act seems to be telling the whole world about Powell's ideas," Wang said.
Wang said that Taiwan should collect further information on the matter before making any judgment.
Additional reporting by Debby Wu
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