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White House Report, March 8: China/Taiwan, Syria/Lebanon, United Nations, Czech Republic

WHITE HOUSE URGES CHINA TO RECONSIDER ANTI-SECESSION LAW

White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan called upon China to reconsider passing an anti-secession law targeted at Taiwan, describing it as “unhelpful” and running “counter to recent trends toward a warming in cross-Strait relations.”

Speaking to the press March 8, McClellan said the draft law would allow for punitive measures against Taiwan.  The Bush administration, he said, “oppose[s] any attempts to determine the future of Taiwan by anything other than peaceful means,” and opposes “any attempts to unilaterally change the status quo.”

According to press reports, the Chinese parliament is expected to approve the law March 14.  McClellan called upon Beijing to “reconsider passage of the law.”

The press secretary said the United States continues to encourage cross-Strait dialogue between China and Taiwan, adding, “There has been some helpful dialogue in recent times.”

“[O]ur views are very well known in terms of our continued commitment to a one-China policy that upholds the Three Communiqués and does not support Taiwan[ese] independence,” he said.

The communiqués that form the basis of U.S. foreign policy for China are the Joint Communiqué (Shanghai Communiqué), issued February 27, 1972; the U.S.-PRC Joint Communiqué on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations (Normalization Communiqué), issued January 1, 1979; and the U.S.-PRC Joint Communiqué on Arms Sales, also known as the 1982 Communiqué.

SYRIAN PRESENCE WOULD UNDERMINE CREDIBILITY OF LEBANESE ELECTIONS

McClellan said Syria’s withdrawal from Lebanon is necessary for Lebanon’s upcoming parliamentary elections to be “free and fair and credible.”

“We hope the Lebanese people will be able to express their view at the ballot box through free elections without outside interference and outside intimidation,” he said.  

The Lebanese people “have not had the opportunity to control their future through the ballot box up till now,” he said, and therefore the United States is continuing its emphasis on the importance of free and fair elections “so that the Lebanese people will have control over their own future.”  Lebanon is scheduled to hold parliamentary elections in May.

Syrian troops and intelligence personnel “certainly need to be out of there before those elections take place in order for the elections to be free, fair and credible,” McClellan said.

The press secretary also said the Bush administration believes there should be international monitors to observe the elections and ensure their credibility.

Asked about pro-Syrian demonstrations in Beirut, Lebanon, McClellan said the Bush administration “always welcome[s] peaceful demonstrations and we welcome peaceful demonstrations by the Lebanese people.”

He said that demonstrators have been peacefully expressing their views in the town square for the past few days, and that the pro-Syrian demonstrators were waving the Lebanese, as opposed to the Syrian, flag.

The press secretary also expressed appreciation for the March 7 joint statement by French President Jacques Chirac and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroder, which said that Syria’s continued presence “undermines the aspirations of the Lebanese people.”

BOLTON SHARES BUSH’S COMMITMENT TO U.N. REFORM

McClellan said that President Bush wants to make sure the United Nations achieves “meaningful results” and that John Bolton, who has been nominated as the next U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, “shares the president’s commitment” to reforming the organization.

“We have worked with the United Nations in many different areas to achieve some very positive results, but the president believes that there is more that needs to be done to make sure that it is an organization that is fulfilling its mandate and there are some areas where it can do much better,” McClellan said.

Specifically, the Bush administration wants to ensure that when Security Council resolutions are passed, the council “means what it says and that it follows through on those resolutions,” McClellan said.

“We want to make sure that it is an effective organization as we work to address the common challenges that we face in the 21st century,” he said.

The press secretary described Bolton as “an effective multilateralist” and a “tough-minded diplomat” who he said has proven his record of achieving results  as under secretary of state for arms control and international security affairs, and will represent Bush’s desire for reforms.  Bolton served in that position since May 2001.  The U.S. Senate must confirm his appointment as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.

BUSH, CZECH REPUBLIC’S KLAUS DISCUSS TRANSATLANTIC RELATIONS

President Bush welcomed Czech Republic President Vaclav Klaus to the White House, where they discussed U.S.-European relations, Iraq, and the spread of democracy in Eastern Europe and the Middle East.

Speaking before their meeting, McClellan said Klaus’ visit was “an opportunity to talk about the president’s recent trip to Europe and to talk about ways to strengthen not only our bilateral relationship but our transatlantic relationship to continue to focus on our common agenda.”

Afterwards, Klaus told the press that relations between the Czech Republic and the United States are “very, very positive” and that his meeting with Bush was “just a confirmation of that.”

BUSH TO WELCOME JORDAN’S KING ABDULLAH MARCH 15

President Bush will host Jordan’s King Abdullah for talks at the White House March 15,  McClellan reported.

The two leaders will discuss bilateral issues and Middle Eastern issues, he said, such as Jordan's economic development, the broader Middle East initiative, terrorism, Iraq, Lebanon and peace efforts between Israelis and Palestinians.