U.S. and Hong Kong (2004)

State Department Noon Briefing, March 26, 2004

State Department Spokesman Richard Boucher briefed the press at the noon briefing March 26.

Following is the transcript of the State Department briefing:

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U.S. Department of State
Daily Press Briefing
Friday, March 26, 2004
1:42 p.m. EST

BRIEFER: Richard Boucher, Spokesman

[ ...Intervening Text... ]

MR. BOUCHER: Okay. Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. It's a pleasure to be here. I don't have any statements or announcements, so I'd be glad to take your questions.

Mr. Gedda.

QUESTION: Do you have anything to say about the Chinese statement that they cannot be indifferent to the post-election turmoil in Taiwan?

MR. BOUCHER: I would just go back to saying that the election in Taiwan is important. I think the White House, as you've seen, has expressed our sentiments about the situation, now. We've said that there are legal procedures to peacefully resolve the outcome of the election. We think that those will be used. We certainly condemn and disagree with any acts of violence, but we -- Taiwan has a vibrant democracy, and that's a good thing.

QUESTION: We have heard the White House, or Bush Administration would issue a statement. Do you have it? Do you mind read it on camera?

MR. BOUCHER: The White House issued the statement. I'm not in the habit of reading their statements over here.

QUESTION: Okay.

MR. BOUCHER: We certainly support it, though.

QUESTION: Could you actually answer George's question, which was about --

MR. BOUCHER: Do I have something to say about the Chinese statement about some --

QUESTION: Yes.

MR. BOUCHER: No. I have something to say about the situation. I have -- I can express our view of the same matters, which I just did. But I'm not getting in tit-for-tat with Chinese statements.

QUESTION: Well, this wasn't -- I mean, you're not -- you don't have any -- you're not concerned about the possible ramifications of what the Chinese have said?

MR. BOUCHER: I think we're fully aware, the Chinese have views about the situation. I expressed ours. Let them express theirs.

QUESTION: Is there any contact recently between U.S. and the Chinese high-level officials in this regard?

MR. BOUCHER: Well, certainly, we are in contact with the Chinese all the time on various issues. The Secretary talked to Foreign Minister Li again in the last couple of days. I don't remember exactly which day it was.

Nadya.

QUESTION: Middle East? Change of subject?

MR. BOUCHER: Please. We're still on Taiwan for a while?

QUESTION: I have one.

MR. BOUCHER: Okay.

QUESTION: Can you confirm that United States is officially congratulate President Chen Shui-bian as the winner?

MR. BOUCHER: As I said, the White House has issued a statement one of your colleagues was asking about. That speaks for all of us.

QUESTION: Do you see any justification for the opposition supporters to take to the streets, as they plan to do tomorrow, you know, to contest the results of the election?

MR. BOUCHER: Well, on the issue of demonstrating and expressing their views, obviously we're in support of people expressing their views. On the other hand, we're against violence, and we caution all sides to try to maintain peace and a calm atmosphere. Let the legal procedures play themselves out. And -- but certainly, we're always -- never have a problem with people expressing their views.

Okay.

[ ...Intervening Text... ]

QUESTION: Yes, about the island dispute over -- with between Japan and China. The situation seems to be worsening. The supporters of those Chinese who landed on those islands, they are making demonstrations in Beijing and they are burning the national flag of Japan.

What would you say to this? Do you have any comment on it?

MR. BOUCHER: As we know, the sovereignty of the islands is disputed. We don't take a position on the ultimate sovereignty of the islands. That's been our longstanding view. But we expect the claimants to resolve this issue through peaceful means. There have been several attempts to do that in the past and we've supported them. And we urge all claimants to exercise restraint as regards their activities in that area.

QUESTION: Yes, that's exactly the same what, with what Mr. Ereli said two days ago.

MR. BOUCHER: Good.

QUESTION: But with the issue --

MR. BOUCHER: It was intended to be.

QUESTION: Yes, it's -- the issue of ultimate sovereignty set aside, what would you say to that, the landing of those Chinese people itself?

MR. BOUCHER: I would say that it's important for all the parties to exercise restraint in this matter.

QUESTION: But I think it's well short of condemning -- condemnation.

MR. BOUCHER: I would say it's important for all the parties to exercise restraint in this matter.

QUESTION: Well, I want to ask -- you also say that the -- you admit that those islands are under the administrative control of Japan and the U.S.-Japan Security Treaty applies to those islands. If you take that position, would it not be -- the landing of those Chinese people -- would it not be something to be condemned of or criticized of?

MR. BOUCHER: I have stated our position on this issue. I'll state it again if you want me to, but that's where we are.

QUESTION: On Hong Kong. The -- China said that it's going to review two parts of the constitution, the parts that involve the choosing of the leader and the legislative council. It seems like that's going back on that promise to give Hong Kong a high degree of autonomy. Is it something you're concerned about? Do you --

MR. BOUCHER: I haven't seen this particular Chinese statement. This is something that the United States has been concerned about for some time. We've supported the provisions of basic law that provide for universal suffrage at the next round of choosing the next chief executive.

We've always made clear our view. We think that that needs to be in a democratic fashion, that democracy is the way the Hong Kong people -- is what -- the Hong Kong people deserve democracy, and we've always supported it.

We've always made clear what our interests are in this situation, as well, that a stable, autonomous Hong Kong with the openness of society and openness of markets and the rule of law that it's always had is very important to us, and it's also very important to China and, of course, to the people of Hong Kong.

[ ...Intervening Text... ]

(The briefing was concluded at 2:20 p.m.)

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