US Secretary of State Colin Powell told Congress on Wednesday
the Bush administration "doesn't really see a need" for the Taiwan
referendum question, and opposes action that would change the
status quo in the region.
In a testimony before the House International Relations
Committee, Powell said: "Taiwan is a democratic place, if they
choose to have a referendum, they can have a referendum. We've made
clear to them, however, that we do not want to see these actions
lead in any way to change in the situation."
He said: "We still are fully supportive, and totally committed
to our one-China policy based on the three communiqués and the
Taiwan Relations Act.... And we don't believe any action should be
taken in the region that would unilaterally change the
situation."
Last month, under pressure from Washington, the Taiwanese
"president" Chen Shui-bian retreated from a plan to present a
ballot question bluntly demanding that the mainland renounce the
use of force and withdraw missiles aimed at the island.
In its place, Taiwanese voters will now be asked whether, if the
mainland refused to withdraw the missiles, Taiwan should acquire
advanced anti-missile systems. A second measure on the ballot will
ask if Taiwan should engage in negotiations with the mainland on a
"peace and stability" framework for cross-Straits integration.
The Chinese central government regards the ballot initiative as
a provocation and is reported to have pressed the US administration
to take a tougher stand against it.
Mr. Powell told a committee questioner the United States "is not
expressing support" for either ballot question, and said Taiwan and
the mainland will have to work together to "eventually find a way
of reconciling their different views and interests."
The Chinese central government has been strongly opposed to
Taiwanese leader Chen Shui-Bian's plans for the March 20
referendum, in which he is also seeking re-election.
On January 30 during a trip to Beijing, Deputy Secretary of
State Richard Armitage said it is quite clear that the United
States is opposed to any unilateral action which alters the status
quo by either side.
When asked about discussions in Taiwan about holding a
referendum, Armitage replied: "As much as we respect Taiwan's
democracy, the referendum in question does raise some
questions."
"As I understand it," Armitage said, "referenda are generally
reserved for items or issues that are either very divisive, or very
difficult. The wording that I have seen of the referendum seems to
be neither divisive nor difficult. So I think it raises some
questions about the motives of those who want to put it
forward."
"The position of the United States on this is that we're
studying this very carefully. It's not just the written words that
would be in front of one on a paper, but it is the context of them
and how they are used domestically. It's a very fluid
situation."
The United States, Armitage said, wants to study the referendum
proposal in context "and how it's used domestically." He noted that
in Taiwan, "there is an election campaign going on, and that may
have something to do with it."
(China Daily February 12, 2004)