EXCERPT - FOREIGN PRESS CENTER BRIEFING BY MAJOR GENERAL BRUCE SCOTT, COMMANDER, U.S. ARMY SECURITY ASSISTANCE COMMAND

TOPIC: ARMY SECURITY ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS AND NATIONAL SECURITY
THE WASHINGTON FOREIGN PRESS CENTER, WASHINGTON, D.C.
11:05 A.M. EDT TUESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2001

[...]

Q (Off mike) -- of Hong Kong. My question is about China and Taiwan. You are selling weapons to both parties. And how do you define the sales?

GEN. SCOTT: Yes. First of all, I would disagree. I'm unaware of any weapon sales to the People's Republic of China, the PRC. I certainly -- I don't have any.

We support the administration policy and the State Department policy of a one-China policy. I would also tell you that we are engaged with the Taiwanese, and we're engaged to the effect that as Taiwan requests systems defensive in nature, it goes through a vetting process both in the administration and within DOD, and the outcome of that vetting process on certain systems, when the authority is given, and should the Taiwanese request, then we support those types of sales. So that's how it's worked in that region.

It is in congruence with and in support of the administration one-China policy. So that's how we work in that area.

Q And you are saying that's reducing the conflict?

GEN. SCOTT: What I am saying is that what we are trying to do as we pursue these goals is, the defensive systems that Taiwan may want, based on the approval process within the administration, once that is all vetted and the approval is given, if they pursue those, then we will work with them if we're going to -- if we'll achieve those sales.

Q I just have another question.

GEN. SCOTT: Sure.

Q The U.S. is against China's proliferation for weapons and missile technology. How do you justify your weapon sales to other countries that it's not a proliferation?

GEN. SCOTT: Again, I'm not discussing the administration policy. I'm discussing what we do in the Army. What I would tell you is we work with our systems, and as we work with allies, what we are trying to ensure is that those allies work with us into the future to ensure that we have joint cooperation with them so as we work to a coalition, that we can work together more closely. I believe that the more we can train other forces to look like the U.S. Army, the U.S. Army that operates in civilian control of a democracy, the better off and the safer that we will make armies of the world. And that's our objective.

[...]