U.S. and Taiwan (2006)

U.S. Department of State

Daily Press Briefing

Sean McCormack, Spokesman
Washington, DC
November 3, 2006

12:30 p.m. EST

[ ...Intervening Text... ]

QUESTION: Okay. Thank you, Sean. The First Lady of Taiwan has been --

MR. MCCORMACK: Right.

QUESTION: -- indicted on embezzlement and burglary charges. You may well – very well call this the internal affairs of Taiwan. That's --

MR. MCCORMACK: You anticipated my answer.

QUESTION: Yes, sure, but it has serious ramifications for the political stability in Taiwan, for the stability across the Taiwan Strait, and the stability in U.S.-Taiwan relations. Do you have any comment on the indictment itself? And I have a quick follow-up.

MR. MCCORMACK: Well, how do you know? I might answer everything and you won't have a follow-up. As you anticipated, we view this as an internal matter that should be dealt with by the established constitution and laws of Taiwan.

QUESTION: Early last week, the AIT director, Mr. Stephen Young, said that the United States would cooperate with President Chen until the end of his term. Given this latest development, do you still believe that President Chen will be able to serve the full term of his office? Or are you drawing up any contingency plans for any possible stepping down by President Chen and a possible transfer of power from the president to the vice president?

MR. MCCORMACK: That's a double-foul. I mean, that's asking me to comment on an internal matter and a hypothetical, so it's just – it's a double-foul.

(Laughter.)

Yes.

QUESTION: The indictment itself immediately led to a widespread protest in Taiwan calling for Chen's ouster. And I'm just wondering if the U.S. concerned about the stability in Taiwan or across the Strait?

MR. MCCORMACK: We are confident that the matter will be dealt with according to the established constitution and laws.

QUESTION: I have another unanswerable question.

(Laughter.)

MR. MCCORMACK: You're not going to commit any fouls, George.

QUESTION: The next in line is more pro-independence than President Chen. Does this cause any concern here?

MR. MCCORMACK: Again, we -- this is -- this presupposes some change in the leadership and I'm not going to get into such matters. I expect that our relationship will continue as it is right now.

Yeah.

QUESTION: The South Korean envoy to --

QUESTION: One more on this?

MR. MCCORMACK: Are you going to try and come at it from another angle? Sure go ahead.

QUESTION: Is the U.S. sending any message to President Chen telling him either, you know, be prepared to step down or to stay the course?

MR. MCCORMACK: All right, next.

QUESTION: Whether he steps down or not, it's going to be internal chaos in Taiwan. Would that impact any current cooperation between U.S. and Taiwan?

MR. MCCORMACK: I think I answered that question in response to George's question.

Yeah. Yes, sir, in the middle here.

QUESTION: Getting back to the Taiwan question, if he steps down Annette Lu becomes President and she's more pro-Taiwan and more pro-activist than Chen Shui-bian. Does the United States -- is the United States concerned at all that this might stir the pot and cause problems for the United States?

MR. MCCORMACK: Same answer as up here.

Yeah, Joel.

QUESTION: Sean, can you explain the front page story of today's Washington Times in which they say that we're poised to invade North Korea. And is this accurate or a wrong assumption?

MR. MCCORMACK: I'm not sure that's exactly what it said.

QUESTION: Can we talk about Taiwan? (Laughter.)

MR. MCCORMACK: Go on, you bring it up, Barry.

Go ahead.

[ ...Intervening Text... ]

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