U.S.
Official Supports Cross-Strait Dialogue with No Preconditions
Taiwan Security Research
Central News Agency, June 22, 2001
Washington -- Echoing
the position taken by the Republic of China government, a senior U.S.
official said Thursday that Taiwan and mainland China should resume
dialogue without preconditions.
Torkel Patterson, senior
director of Asian affairs at the National Security Council, said that
ROC President Chen Shui-bian" has followed the correct path"
because he has been open to discussion with Beijing.
"I
don't think there needs to be any preconditions for dialogue between
the two sides," Patterson added in answer to a reporter's question
related to the stalemate between Taipei and Beijing.
This is believed to be
the first time a Bush administration official has openly expressed
support for Taipei's position that no preconditions be set for cross-strait
dialogue but it was not known whether he was following the official
government line on the issue.
Beijing
has insisted that Taipei recognize the "one-China" principle
before any talks can restart, while Chen's government says the question
of "one China" can be an item on the agenda, but not a precondition.
Patterson also reiterated
the long-standing U.S. position of not mediating between the two sides.
"I'd encourage both sides to meet and discuss but the U.S. will
not try to get involved in the process," he said.
On a trip to mainland
China by President George Bush scheduled for October, Patterson said
that Bush will try to establish good channels of communication with
his mainland Chinese counterpart, Jiang Zemin.
At the same time, he said,
Bush will be straightforward in expressing his views on Taiwan and
human rights.
Bush is expected to visit
Beijing after attending an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum
summit in Shanghai. His first trip to Asia since becoming president
will first take him to Japan and South Korea, major U.S. allies in
the region.