U.S. Relations With the People's Republic of China (2008)

U.S. Department of State

Daily Press Briefing

Sean McCormack, Spokesman
Washington, DC
June 12, 2008

12:40 p.m. EDT

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QUESTION: Do you have any comment on China and Taiwan's recent talk to further improve ties?

MR. GALLEGOS: Oh, yes.

QUESTION: Thank you.

MR. GALLEGOS: Actually, I don't have it. Actually -- yeah, I do have something to say about that. No, this is -- we believe it's important for the two to work towards a peaceful resolution of the cross-border -- (inaudible) the Cross-Strait issues. Our understanding is that they had a good conversation and we are hoping that they will continue in the future.

Yes.

QUESTION: Have you received Taiwan's request for President Ma Ying-jeou to transit through U.S. on his was to Central America in August?

MR. GALLEGOS: No, I haven't seen that -- I haven't seen any notification of that request. I'll have to see where we are on that, see if there has been -- if we have received one.

Yes, David.

QUESTION: Do you have anything on a report in one of the papers this morning that the Bush Administration is basically sitting on the proposed Taiwan weapons sale and that there's some doubt that this is -- that it's going to occur during the Bush Administration? It's --

MR. GALLEGOS: Mm-hmm. Well, you know, we follow the Taiwan Relations Act. This is something we take very seriously. There's an interagency process to determine what sales of defense products will be sold to the Taiwanese. It's an interagency process that when it is concluded, we go to Congress and notify them of the intent. When all of that has been accomplished, we'll proceed. We're not at that point yet.

Yes. Joel.

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QUESTION: Gonzo, China has -- apparently have committed, either by government or by hackers, and compromised the database of Congressman Wolf and Smith. This is a human rights database. And have the Chinese apologized? And also, have they compromised a protest-free Olympics and will you attend those Olympics early in August?

MR. GALLEGOS: I've seen the stories. I don't have any information on exactly what happened or who might have -- who might have perpetrated -- perpetuated --

QUESTION: Perpetrated.

MR. GALLEGOS: Thank you. Perpetrated the act. I think the President has been very clear about his desire and willingness to attend the Olympics, the Opening of the Olympics. I haven't heard anything different at this point.

Yes.

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QUESTION: The Chinese -- have you had any conversations with them about this computer incident? Because Wolf and Smith were jumping up and down about it and rather upset that their computers apparently have been violated and said that it went back to China?

MR. GALLEGOS: Mm-hmm. Well, like I said, I really don't have enough information on exactly what happened or who did it.

QUESTION: But not any conversation?

MR. GALLEGOS: Not that I know of. Not that -- I don't know of any conversations from this building with --

QUESTION: No attempt to find out what --

MR. GALLEGOS: Not that I know. I don't have any --

QUESTION: Thank you.

(The briefing was concluded at 1:02 p.m.)