US denounces China's white paper, says unhelpful for solution

US denounces China's white paper, says unhelpful for solution
PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

WASHINGTON, FEB 23: The US has denounced a new Chinese white paper that threatens use of force if Taipei repeatedly rebuffed peaceful reunification with the mainland and said Washington had "abiding interest" in peaceful resolution between the two nations.

"We reject the use of force or the threat of the use of force as a way of resolving the Taiwan question. We believe the issue must be resolved peacefully," State Department spokesman James Rubin said. Expressing `concern' over the white paper, he said the Chinese statement was unhelpful and counter-productive. "This is a new formulation. We think it is counter-productive to the purpose of achieving a cross-strait dialogue that can resolve this issue peacefully. That is why we find it unhelpful." Stating that America had taken up the Taiwan issue with the Chinese both in Beijing and in Washington, Rubin said, "It is up to China and Taiwan to determine what is the basis for dialogue, but we certainly have an `abiding interest' in the peaceful resolution of differences between China and Taiwan."

He said though Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott discussed the issue extensively with China during his recent visit to Beijing, yet the American delegation was not told about the white paper. On China's military movements before the Taiwanese presidential elections, Rubin said: "We have a long-standing policy in this regard. And that is, based on the Taiwan Relations Act. The President and Congress will determine any appropriate action by the US under the circumstances." Spokesmen from the other two platforms -- White House and Pentagon -- had the same message.

Joe Lockhart, presidential spokesman, said, "We believe that peaceful dialogue and bilateral engagement between the two sides is the way to move forward. We have repeated, I think, in both actions and words that we view any threat to Taiwan with grave concern."

Pentagon spokesman Ken Bacon pointed out that China did not have the force to take over Taiwan. "Therefore, the Chinese threat amounted to just rhetoric."

Rubin, switching over to Iranian polls, said, "Clearly, the elections in Iran are historic. The people there have demonstrated a powerful desire for change. They have called for freedom and the rule of law in their own country and openness and engagement with the rest of the world. We welcome this development and applaud Iran's effort to further institutionalise democracy in that country."

Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, he said, has indicated a willingness to develop a road map to normal relations between Iran and the US. "But at this time I am not going to speculate as to what we might do."

Continuing with the US criticism of Russia's actions in Chechnya, Rubin noted that President Vladmir Putin had promoted several senior Russian officers on the eve of the Russian holiday, Fatherland Defenders Day. Rubin remarked; "The irony of these promotions coinciding with the anniversary of Stalin ordering the mass displacement of ethnic Chechens on February 23, 1944 has not escaped the notice of commentators in Russia. The Rusian government has a clear obligation to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation of the numerous credible reports of civilian killings and alleged misconduct by its soldiers without delay. Simply dismissing all such reports as propaganda is not a credible position for the Russian government."