Supporting our alliances, Gov. Bush said, includes keeping our pledge to deter aggression against the Republic of Korea, strengthening security ties with Japan, expanding theater missile defenses among our allies and honoring our promises to the people of Taiwan. "We do not deny there is one China. But we deny the right of Beijing to impose their rule on a free people. As I’ve said before, we will help Taiwan defend itself."

[Asked if he would commit U.S. forces to defend Taiwan.] No. What the Chinese need to assume is that if they violate the One China Policy which has clearly said the U.S. expects there to be a peaceful resolution, the U.S. must help Taiwan to defend itself. Now the Chinese can figure out what that means, but that’s going to mean a resolute stand on my part. …when it comes to violating the One China Policy, the Chinese must hear loud and clear that we will help Taiwan defend itself.

[Asked what he would do if Taiwan were to declare independence.] I would hope Taiwan would also hear the call that the One China Policy is important for the peaceful resolution of the dispute between China and Taiwan. Taiwan must be…reminded by our country that the One China Policy has allowed …Taiwan to develop into a market-oriented economy and to a flourishing democracy. It has worked , and the role of the U.S. is to use our prestige in the world to make sure that the One China Policy remains intact.

We also have concerns over tensions building between China and Taiwan. We need to maintain our commitment to the One China policy, but urge China and Taiwan to intensify their dialogue and to resolve their problems by peaceful means. The Administration is honoring its obligation to make defensive weapons available to Taiwan. But I am deeply concerned that those in the Congress who are pushing the Taiwan Security Enhancement Act are blind to its consequences: a sharp deterioration in the security of the region. It is wrong to isolate and demonize China -- to build a wall when we need to build a bridge.

[question: what, if anything, would you do with respect to PNTR and China if China makes further overtures or actually invades Taiwan?]

…I believe that the chances of a conflict would be sharply diminished by both China and Taiwan entering the WTO. But secondly if push came to shove in any circumstances we have carefully refrained from saying exactly what we would do. But we’d signal very clearly that that would be an unwise option for China to consider.

[question asked: To what extent would you commit American military power to defend Taiwan?] The last four presidents in both political parties have purposefully refrained from spelling out the details of what kinds of circumstances would trigger a direct military action on the part of the United States in the Taiwan Straits.

That ambiguity is not due to a failure to think it through. It is due to a considered judgement that we do not want to give the hot heads on either side of the Taiwan Straits an ability to drive circumstances toward American involvement for their own purposes.

[continued discussion of US response … not clear whether it was in response to the same question or to a question about the Chinese February White Paper threats]

…In previous periods like this Beijing has also done some even more threatening things in the past. And I was part of the decision that President Clinton and the administration made to quietly, without notice, without ballyhooing it, sent the U.S. Pacific Fleet right down, not the entire fleet, but sent warships right down the middle of the Taiwan Straits.

Democratic Debate 3/01/00