You Are In: USINFO > Regions > East Asia Pacific > China
 
 

U.S. Reiterates Firm Commitment to One-China Policy

In response to a question taken at its November 10 press briefing, the State Department issued a statement welcoming the "positive and constructive" points in Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian's cross-Strait policy speech.

"We believe it lays a foundation for progress and offers some creative ideas for reducing tensions and resuming the cross-Strait dialogue," the State Department said.

"The United States is firmly committed to our one China policy, the three joint communiques, and our responsibilities under the Taiwan Relations Act," according to the State Department.

In a separate statement, the State Department repeated that there is no change in U.S. policy, including the Six Assurances regarding Taiwan.

Following are the texts of two questions taken at the State Department's November 10 Press Briefing:

Office of the Press Spokesman
Washington, DC
November 10, 2004
Question Taken at November 10, 2004 Daily Press Briefing

Taiwan -- Chen's 10-Point Cross Strait Policy Speech

QUESTION: What's the U.S. reaction to President Chen's cross-Strait policy speech?

Answer: We welcome the positive and constructive points in Chen Shui-bian's speech.

We believe it lays a foundation for progress and offers some creative ideas for reducing tensions and resuming the cross-Strait dialogue. We urge both sides to take this opportunity to engage in dialogue in order to resolve their differences peacefully.

Our policy remains the same. The United States is firmly committed to our one China policy, the three joint communiques, and our responsibilities under the Taiwan Relations Act. We oppose any efforts by either side to unilaterally alter the status quo.

We do not support Taiwan independence.

We have long maintained that differences between the People's Republic of China and Taiwan are matters to be resolved peacefully by the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, absent the threat or use of force, and should be acceptable to the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.

(end text)

(begin text)

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
November 10, 2004

QUESTION TAKEN AT THE NOVEMBER 10, 2004 PRESS BRIEFING

Taiwan -- Six Assurances

Question: What is the U.S. position on the status of the 1982 "Six Assurances" on Taiwan policy? Specifically, is the one pertaining to sovereignty still valid?

Answer: There is no change in U.S. policy, including regarding the Six Assurances.

The United States remains firmly committed to our one China policy, the three joint communiques, and our responsibilities under the Taiwan Relations Act. We oppose attempts by either side to unilaterally alter the status quo. We do not support Taiwan independence.

We have long maintained that differences between the People's Republic of China and Taiwan are matters to be resolved peacefully, absent the threat or use of force, and should be acceptable to the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.