http://www.reuters.com/locales/newsArticle.jsp?type=worldNews&locale=en_IN&sto
ryID=4940256
26 Apr 2004 13:01
U.S. urges Taiwan to resume dialogue with China
By Alice Hung
TAIPEI (Reuters) - The United States urged Taiwan on Monday to resume
long-stalled talks with arch-foe China as soon as possible, saying that its
pledge to help defend the island cannot be perceived as a blank cheque.
The comments from David Keegan, deputy director of the American Institute in
Taiwan (AIT), was the latest in a series of U.S. warnings against Taipei
moving towards a permanent split from China, which views the island as a
breakaway province.
Despite the lack of formal diplomatic ties, Washington is Taiwan's main arms
supplier and major trading partner. The AIT serves as a de facto embassy that
handles U.S. interests on the island.
"The United States is committed to make available defensive arms and defensive
services to help Taiwan meet its self-defence needs," Keegan told a symposium
to mark the 25th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act, which mandates
Washington to supply the island with weapons.
"We believe a secure and self-confident Taiwan is a Taiwan that is more
capable of engaging in political interaction and dialogue with the PRC and we
expect Taiwan will not interpret our support as a blank cheque to resist such
dialogue."
Washington switched diplomatic recognition from Taipei to the People's
Republic of China (PRC) in Beijing in 1979 and stated U.S. acknowledgment of
the Chinese position that there is only one China and Taiwan is part of it.
But the Taiwan Relations Act says any attempt to determine Taiwan's future by
non-peaceful means would be of "grave concern" to the United States, and
obliges Washington to supply Taiwan with defensive weapons.
China considers Taiwan a renegade province that must be reunited, by force if
necessary, and has said the Taiwan Relations Act sends wrong signals to Taiwan
independence forces.
Washington has become increasingly alarmed in recent months by President Chen
Shui-bian's plans to adopt a new constitution and other steps that could be
perceived as moving Taiwan toward independence, analysts said.
Last week, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State James Kelly warned Taiwan that
unilateral moves towards independence could destroy its economic and
democratic "miracle". He urged Chen to take China's threats of military
retaliation seriously.
While reassuring Taipei it could continue to count on U.S. support and
friendship, Keegan repeated Washington's opposition to any moves towards
Taiwan independence.
"Such moves carry instead the potential for a response from the PRC that will
be dangerous... and foolish but that could destroy much of what Taiwan has
built and it could crush its hopes for the future," Keegan said in the speech.
Underscoring the importance of keeping the United States on its side, Taiwan
Foreign Minister Mark Chen told reporters that Taipei would seek to consult
Washington on the president's May 20 inaugural address to avoid any surprises.
But he declined to comment on media reports that the president's chief of
staff, Chiou I-jen, has left for the United States on such a mission. Chiou
left for New York on Sunday.
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作者: rockey (你千萬別) 看板: CrossStrait
標題: 路透社: 美促台灣盡快同大陸談判
時間: Tue Apr 27 14:03:33 2004
標 題：美促台灣盡快同大陸談判──否則，中共的反應很危險
消息源：路透社
【八闋】美國在台協會(AIT)副處長、前美國國務院東亞暨太平洋司台灣關系協調處主任
凱根(David Keegan)4月26日敦促台灣盡快同大陸談判，並警告說，美國協防台灣的承諾
不能被視為一張“空白支票”。
據路透社報導，凱根當天在台北舉行的一個紀念台灣關系法25周年的研討會上說，“美國
承諾向台灣提供防御武器和防御服務，以幫助台灣滿足自衛的需要...我們認為，一個安
全、自信的台灣更有能力同中華人民共和國進行政治交往和談判，但我們希望,台灣不要
把我們的支持看作一張抵制這種對話的空白支票。”
凱根在保証台灣可以繼續信賴美國的支持和友誼的同時，重申美國反對任何旨在讓台灣獨
立的行動。
他說，“這種行動可能導致中華人民共和國很危險的反應，是愚蠢的，可能毀滅台灣的很
多建設成就，打破台灣未來的希望。”
路透社指出，這是美國針對台灣企圖永久從中國分離出去的努力發出的最新警告。針對台
灣總統陳水扁的台獨舉動，包括制定新憲法的計劃，華盛頓最近幾個月日益警覺。
美國國務院負責東亞事務的助理國務卿凱利上周警告說，任何單方面走向獨立的行動都可
能毀滅台灣的經濟和民主“奇跡”，他敦促陳水扁嚴肅看待中國軍事報復的威脅。
中國視台灣為一個離經叛道的省份，必須統一，必要時不惜使用武力。中國一直認為，台
灣關系法給台獨力量發出了一個錯誤信號，應該廢除。
美國和台灣沒有正式外交關系，但美國是台灣主要的武器供應國和貿易夥伴。美國在台協
會履行著一般美國駐外使館的職責。
華盛頓1979年1月中斷同台灣的外交關系，轉而同中華人民共和國建交。兩國建交公報稱
，美國承認世界上只有一個中瞗A台灣是中國的一部分。但美國國會同年4月通過的台灣
關系卻規定，美國對任何以非和平方式決定台灣未來的企圖都會“表示嚴重關注”，並承
諾向台灣提供自衛武器。
另外，台灣外長陳唐山對記者表示，為了不讓美國感到吃驚，台灣將就陳水扁總統的520
就職演說同美國進行嵇商。但他拒絕就有關總統府秘書長邱義仁前往美國訪問的報導發表
評論。邱義仁等人25日啟程前往紐約，同美國高層溝通。
--
------------
If we have to do some real research, we publish a HELL before we do !!!
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※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc)
◆ From: 68.50.207.116