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US, PRC discussing ways for Taiwan to
join world bodies
By William Lowther / Staff Reporter in
Washington
The US and China are discussing ways for Taiwan to increase its exposure and
influence in the world by joining more international institutions and
organizations, Washington sources said.
Among the groups being considered are the International Civil Aviation
Organization (ICAO) and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC),
sources said.
The issue is expected to be raised in talks between US President Barack Obama
and Chinese President Hu Jintao (JÀAÀÜ) when they meet in Washington next month.
US Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg confirmed the development on
Tuesday when he addressed the Center for American Progress on ¡§The Future of the
US-China Relationship.¡¨
¡§We are encouraged by the positive steps that have been taken by Taipei and
Beijing and urge them to continue to take steps that will build trust and
contribute to stability,¡¨ he said.
¡§There has been important progress on the economic front and we want to see
further progress in the future,¡¨ Steinberg said.
Asked to elaborate, he said: ¡§We were very encouraged by China¡¦s decision to
support Taiwan¡¦s participation as an observer at the World Health Assembly [the
WHO¡¦s decision-making body] and there are other opportunities for the two to
work together in places where the membership is not based on being a sovereign
state.¡¨
¡§We have discussed with China some of the particular institutions and
organizations,¡¨ he said.
¡§For example, on climate change, there is an opportunity for Taiwan to play a
constructive role. It would be in the interests of all of us to have Taiwan
engaged in some particular format. There are a broad range of areas in which
there is opportunity for dialogue and progress in the relationship,¡¨ Steinberg
said.
China generally blocks Taiwan¡¦s attempts to gain international space, but the
Washington sources said that in private discussions Beijing has recently shown
some flexibility.
Earlier, Steinberg emphasized the importance of maintaining ¡§transparency¡¨ in
US-China military relations and avoiding the danger ¡§that our militaries will
become rivals.¡¨
He said it was imperative to ensure that the military-to-military dialogue was
sustainable and that it was not threatened by periods of disagreement, when the
need for dialogue was all the more important.
¡§The ¡¥one China¡¦ policy remains an important part of our overall approach to our
engagement with China, based on the three joint communiques and the Taiwan
Relations Act,¡¨ Steinberg said. ¡§Our policy is aimed at promoting stability and
dialogue across the Straits [sic]. We continue to believe that appropriate
defensive arms sales to Taiwan give Taiwan the confidence to engage the mainland
and we are encouraged by the positive steps that have been taken by Taipei and
Beijing and urge them to continue to take steps that will build trust and
contribute to stability.¡¨
He said the US was working hard to strengthen other aspects of security
cooperation with China, particularly in some of the non-traditional areas, such
as counterterrorism, tackling piracy and law enforcement.
In related news, the Bureau of Public Affairs at the US State Department said in
a statement on Tuesday that Steinberg would lead a delegation to Asia from next
Tuesday through Friday.
The delegation, consisting of US National Security Council Senior Director for
Asian Affairs Jeffrey Bader, US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and
Pacific Affairs Kurt Campbell and US Special Envoy Sung Kim, will leave
Washington for Beijing next Tuesday, where they are scheduled to meet senior
officials to continue consultations with the Chinese on regional security
issues.
Steinberg and Bader will return to Washington on Dec. 17, while Campbell will
travel to Tokyo on Dec. 16. Kim will travel to Seoul on Dec. 16, with both
Campbell and Kim returning to Washington on Dec. 17, the statement said.
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