U.S. and Hong Kong (2004)

State Department Noon Briefing, May 17

State Department Deputy Spokesman Adam Ereli briefed reporters May 17.

Following is the transcript of the State Department briefing:

(begin transcript)

U.S. Department of State
Daily Press Briefing
Monday, May 17, 2004
1:15 p.m. EDT

BRIEFER: Adam Ereli, Deputy Spokesman

[ ...Intervening Text... ]

QUESTION: Sorry, I just want to ask about the working group in Beijing. The Secretary clearly said Friday there is no -- there was no breakthrough. And could you elaborate what was discussed in Beijing more from U.S. side?

MR. ERELI: The working group meeting -- the working group meeting in Beijing concluded on Friday, May 15th, with a meeting between Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo and the heads of the delegations. The meeting, I think, afforded all parties an opportunity to meet at a working level to review their positions. They spent three days, I think, going over where each stood on the important issues.

I think the important -- the important thing that came out of the meeting was a agreement to support a second working group meeting that would take place before the third plenary session, i.e., the end of June.

So good meeting, good exchange of views. Don't know that I would say that there were any breakthroughs, but an important agreement to try to get another working group meeting before the next plenary.

[ ...Intervening Text... ]

MR. ERELI: Oh, I'm sorry. Yes, Taiwan?

QUESTION: China.

MR. ERELI: China.

QUESTION: Anyway, China issued a statement on Sunday sternly warning Taiwan not to press for independence, or it will crush their schemes. But, at the same time, they also offered the prospect for fresh peace talks and enhanced cooperation. So does this approach, abandon the independence in favor of dialogue, mirror the U.S. policy?

MR. ERELI: Let me give you our views on the Chinese statement, which I think you're asking about. Right?

QUESTION: Yes.

MR. ERELI: Okay. This is a statement, as you say, that was issued, I believe, yesterday, on Sunday. There are portions in the statement that threaten the use of force against Taiwan, and we view those parts as unhelpful. And the use of force is a message that we, the United States, oppose.

I would also note that there are constructive portions of the statement, and we would urge Beijing to focus on those positive elements that talk about how the two sides can move relations forward. It has been our position, and it continues to be our position, that differences between the People's Republic of China and Taiwan need to be resolved peacefully, through dialogue, and that continues to be the direction that we urge both parties to take.

Yes, ma'am.

QUESTION: Adam, first, in this newly issued statements, there seems like a "One China" principle still be the precondition for dialogue, as Beijing issued. So U.S. already said that you urge both sides to continue dialogue without any preconditions. So, well, do you have any comment about --

MR. ERELI: There has been no change in our position. So, you know, we oppose the use of force, we oppose unilateral action by either side that would change the status quo, and we continue to encourage both sides to engage in dialogue to peacefully address their differences. And we reiterate, from our -- on our part, our commitment to fulfill our obligations under the Taiwan Relations Act.

QUESTION: Thank you.

MR. ERELI: But we've got more. We've got a lot more. So if you want to go, go, but I'm going to stay until we answer the questions.

Yes, ma'am.

QUESTION: China's strong warning just came days before the inauguration, which suggests China feels, I mean, some sense of urgency in warning Taiwan's leader before he makes this speech. So does the U.S. share the same sense or urgency or concern, and, I mean, at the possible content of the speech?

MR. ERELI: I'm not going to speculate on what -- what were the motives behind the statement. I will, as I have, expressed our views of the statement and leave it at that.

Yes, sir.

QUESTION: Could you tell me whether the U.S. has been informed or had been informed before the Taiwan Affairs Office made that statement during the weekend? Did you --

MR. ERELI: Yes, the Chinese Foreign Ministry called Ambassador Randt on Sunday to preview the statement.

QUESTION: On the other side, are you getting any briefings of any kind on what President Chen might be saying on Thursday, during his inaugural?

MR. ERELI: Nothing that I have to share with you, or nothing that I'm aware of, frankly.

Mr. Lambros.

Oh, I'm sorry. Do you have one more question?

QUESTION: Yes, yes. In the Taiwan Affairs Office statement, there is a -- there seems to be a new element, which is, through discussion, putting an end to hostilities across the Taiwan Strait and building military confidence-building measures, confidence-building measures militarily. My question is: Is the United States prepared to help, do anything to help facilitate that goal?

MR. ERELI: I really have nothing more to add than what we -- than our, sort of, traditional message on our commitments to Taiwan under the Taiwan Relations Act. We'll continue to fulfill those commitments and to provide for Taiwan's defense.

QUESTION: Still on this.

QUESTION: The Secretary --

QUESTION: Sorry. When the Ambassador was reviewing this preview of the document or the statement, did he note to the Chinese that it was going to be unhelpful to have the aspects about use of force in it?

MR. ERELI: I don't, Saul, have any details for you on the Ambassador's discussions with the Chinese. So I couldn't tell you what was said in that meeting.

QUESTION: It's something about Hong Kong.

MR. ERELI: Okay. Hong Kong, and then we'll go to Mr. Lambros.

QUESTION: Okay. Assistant Secretary Kelly just visit Hong Kong. And I wondered, do you have anything to brief us? Did he, you know, get any chance to talk with the people there and express U.S. concern about the democracies?

MR. ERELI: Let me check with colleagues in East Asia and Pacific Affairs and see if I have anything to share with you on Secretary Kelly's visit.

Yes, Mr. Lambros.

[ ...Intervening Text... ]

(The briefing was concluded at 2:15 p.m.)

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