U.S. and Taiwan (2006)

U.S. Department of State

Daily Press Briefing

Sean McCormack, Spokesman
Washington, DC
May 19, 2006

12:40 p.m. EDT

[ ...Intervening Text... ]

QUESTION: On China. There have been calls for China to join the Group of 8 and I want to know if the United States welcomes or supports China to become a member of the Group of 8. If it does, does United States support China to become a full member or just member like Russia?

MR. MCCORMACK: Well, I'm not sure where the calls are coming from. I'll look into it for you. I haven't seen any calls for China to be part of the G-8, but we'll look for them and if such do exist, then we'll certainly try to give you a response to your question.

QUESTION: But does U.S. support China to become a member?

MR. MCCORMACK: Again, I have to look in -- I want to first assess the basis for your question, whether or not there are these calls out there. I haven't seen them. They may exist.

Yes. We have a couple more back here?

[ ...Intervening Text... ]

QUESTION: Thank you. I have two questions on Taiwan. With the annual World Health Assembly is going to be held next week. Is the U.S. position to support Taiwan's participation in World Health Organization still the same this year?

And the second, Taiwan just released its first national security paper. Any reaction to that paper?

MR. MCCORMACK: We'll have to get back to you on both of those questions.

QUESTION: Thank you.

MR. MCCORMACK: Thank you.

(The briefing was concluded at 1:20 p.m.)