Below is the relevant excerpt of State Department press briefing on January 20
and transcript of Colin Powell January 16 interview with Phoenix TV,
see:
Secretary Colin L. Powell
Benjamin Franklin Room
Washington, DC
January 20, 2004
[...]
QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, China has said that the proposed referendum in
Taiwan could take Taiwanese-Chinese bilateral relations to the brink of
danger. Do you share that concern and do you think the referendum could
alter the status quo?
SECRETARY POWELL: Well, it remains to be seen. And we're still studying
the language in the referendum and we're also studying the response
that we've heard from Beijing.
Let me just say that our policy remains unchanged and it remains our
One China policy under girded by the various resolutions and our
obligations under the Taiwan Relations Act. By resolutions, I mean the three
specific communiqué that flow from our One China policy. And we believe
that this is the way to move forward and no unilateral actions should be
taken which would prejudice the ability to move forward and achieve
reconciliation in due course.
[...]
* * * * *
Interview on Phoenix TV with Anthony Yuen
Secretary Colin L. Powell
Washington, DC
January 16, 2004 (10:20 a.m. EST)
MR. YUEN: Mr. Secretary, nice to have you here today.
SECRETARY POWELL: Hello, how are you?
MR. YUEN: Fine. Thank you. You look good, sir.
SECRETARY POWELL: Thank you very much.
MR. YUEN: How's the recovery of your operation?
SECRETARY POWELL: Recovery's going very well. I'm pleased now to
consider myself a cancer survivor and I would say to everyone, make sure you
watch your health.
MR. YUEN: Oh, good, good. Good for you. At the 1855 p.m. January 16th,
Beijing time, Taiwan's Chen Shui-bian -- I believe you are familiar
with him now -- Taiwan's Chen Shui-bian announced a plan, the exactly
wording of this referendum. So I -- let me read those two questions for
you. If China does not remove missiles aimed at Taiwan and not give up the
use of force against Taiwan, do you support the government to increase
the purchase of anti-missile equipment to strengthen Taiwan's
self-defense capability?
And the second question, he want the Taiwanese people answer in the
referendum is, do you agree the government and the communists of China
should open negotiations and promote a peaceful, stable framework for
interaction in order to seek consensus between the two sides and welfare
for the people? Mr. Secretary, what do you think about this? Are you
satisfied with that?
SECRETARY POWELL: Well, we have just received those statements and we
are still studying them and we're not prepared to give a definitive
answer. But I think President Chen has shown a little flexibility in the
way those two questions have been worded. What we have said clearly to
Mr. Chen is that the United States will continue to support, in every
way, our One-China policy based upon the three communique and, of course,
our obligations to Taiwan under the Taiwan Relations Act. And we would
not be supportive of any effort on the part of either of the parties to
undertake a unilateral resolution of the difficulties between the two
parties.
And so we will study the statement very, very carefully, and it seems
to suggest a bit of flexibility rom his earlier positions.
MR. YUEN: Mr. Secretary, as far as I can concern, there is a little
trap in his wording of this question. For example, he said if China does
not give up the using of force against Taiwan, you know that China
cannot do this because they said that using force to keep the Taiwanese from
independence is kind of showing sovereignty. So do you think these
arguments could go forever?
SECRETARY POWELL: Well, I think it's best that we study the language
very, very carefully, and then ask whatever questions might be
appropriate for us to ask in order to get perfect clarity on the answer before I
offer an opinion on the details of the referendum. I think our position
is very clear. President Bush made our position very clear recently
with respect to any efforts that would not be supportive of the current
situation and our One-China policy.
MR. YUEN: Yes. One question I want to ask you is, Taiwan, Chen
Shui-bian, this little guy, they need your support, for now and in the future.
But for the past two months or three months, they keep on saying a big
no to you against a lot of questions, and a lot of things you want them
to do. For example, don't do any referendum, don't declare independence
or you -- don't say anything or act to leading to independence. So is
that bother you?
SECRETARY POWELL: No, we have good relations with Beijing. We have good
relations with President Chen Shui-bian. He knows very clearly what our
position is with respect to any move toward independence. He knows very
clearly what our position is with respect to how the reconciliation
between the two sides ultimately must take place. He knows very clearly
our position with respect to unilateral actions and so I think the
President has been very straightforward with both parties as to our policy
and what we expect of others.
Of course we support Taiwan. We have an obligation to do so under our
Taiwan Relations Act and both parties are aware that we will continue to
meet our obligations under the Taiwan Relations Act.
MR. YUEN: All right. The Chinese Lunar New Year, the Year of the Monkey
is approaching. So Mr. Secretary, can you say something to the Chinese
people around the world on this occasion to our Phoenix TV?
SECRETARY POWELL: Well, from America, I wish the Chinese all around the
world, in China as well as so many Chinese who live elsewhere, a most
happy new year in this Year of the Monkey. And I'm pleased that we start
out in this near year with good relations between the United States and
China and it is our desire to improve those relations in order to
benefit the people of China as well as the people of the United States. And
when these two great nations are seen working together to improve
relations, to improve the economies of both nations, I think this is a
powerful signal to all nations in Asia and all nations in the world.
MR. YUEN: Thank you very much, Mr. Secretary. We wish you well and
please say hello to your family. Thank you.
SECRETARY POWELL: Thank you very much.
2004/43
[End]
Released on January 16, 2004
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