Feb 17, 2012

Taiwan: US Policy Remains Steadfast


Following talks between U.S. President Barack Obama and Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping, a spokesperson for the U.S. State Department has affirmed that the U.S. government’s policy towards Taiwan will remain unchanged.

Below is an article by Focus Taiwan:

The recent meeting between U.S. President Barack Obama and Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping has not led to any change in Washington's policy toward Taiwan, a U.S. State Department spokesperson said Thursday [16 February 2012].

The U.S. government has been dealing with cross-Taiwan Strait affairs based on a "one China" policy, the three communiques with China, and the Taiwan Relations Act, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Xi, who is expected to succeed Hu Jintao as general secretary of the Communist Party of China this fall and become president next year, held talks with Obama at the White House on Tuesday.

According to China's Vice Foreign Minister Cui Tiankai, Obama voiced Washington's opposition to Taiwan independence when the Taiwan issue was raised during the meeting.

However, in a press briefing held Tuesday on the Obama-Xi talks, White House press secretary Jay Carney said he did not have a detailed readout of the meeting, when asked if the Taiwan issue had been mentioned.

"I think all of the issues that are traditionally part of the discussion with China are likely to have been raised," he said.