U.S. and Taiwan (2006)

State Department Briefing, January 30

State Department deputy spokesman Adam Ereli briefed reporters January 30.

Following is the transcript of the State Department briefing:

(begin transcript)

U.S. Department of State
Daily Press Briefing
Monday, January 30, 2006
1:13 p.m. EST

Adam Ereli, Deputy Spokesman

[ ...Intervening Text... ]

MR. ERELI: ... The final statement is just a reiteration of U.S. policy on Taiwan. We are pointing out, once again, that our -- the U.S. policy towards Taiwan is governed by our "one China" policy, the Taiwan Relations Act and the three U.S.-China joint communiqués, and we urge both Beijing and Taipei to establish substantive Cross-Strait dialogue to the mutual benefit of both sides on the strait.

QUESTION: Are you issuing this to celebrate China's New Years or is there a reason?

MR. ERELI: No. We're issuing this in the wake of some comments by President Chen in Taiwan that we don't want to be inflammatory or send the wrong signal, so we thought it useful to reiterate U.S. policy on the subject.

QUESTION: What do you think of his move to abolish the unification panel that was set up?

MR. ERELI: Well, as I said, there were some remarks made over the weekend that are just that, remarks. As far as U.S. is concerned -- United States is concerned, our policy towards this issue hasn't changed. We think it's important that both sides engage in dialogue and that there be -- and very importantly, I think it's -- I want to underscore this -- the United States opposes any unilateral change to the status quo by either side.

Yeah.

QUESTION: Adam?

QUESTION: On Taiwan, too. The -- President Chen also mentioned that he would like to promote Taiwan's participation in the United Nations, especially in the name of Taiwan. I'm just wondering what's the U.S. stand on that issue.

MR. ERELI: I think if you look at the broad principles of our policy, you'll see that we don't -- we oppose, as I just said, any unilateral change to the status quo, and that would govern that issue as well.

QUESTION: How about the United Nations participation?

MR. ERELI: That's a unilateral change to the status quo.

QUESTION: I see. Well, were you caught by surprise this time?

MR. ERELI: We certainly weren't expecting it and we weren't consulted about it. So I'd say it was a surprise.

QUESTION: So, were you mad at that?

MR. ERELI: We think it's useful, as I said earlier, in the wake of the speech, to give a clear and unequivocal restatement of U.S. policy.

QUESTION: Do you regard his -- you know, statement as a kind of -- you know, betrayal to his commitments that he had said again and again to the U.S.?

MR. ERELI: We think it's important that both sides engage in substantive dialogue to the mutual benefit of the people on both sides of the strait.

QUESTION: President Chen also called for drawing a draft for new constitution this year and having a referendum on the new constitution next year. Do you have any comment on this --

MR. ERELI: Not beyond what I've already said. Other subjects?

[ ...Intervening Text... ]

(The briefing was concluded at 1:34 p.m.)

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