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Bush says opposes Taiwan referendum ( 2003-12-10 01:00) (Agencies)
U.S. President George W. Bush said on Tuesday he opposes the apparent interest of Taiwan's leaders in taking steps toward independence.
Meeting with reporters in the Oval Office after a 40-minute meeting with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, Bush said he had told the premier, ``The United States policy is one China.'' ``We oppose any unilateral decision by either China or Taiwan to change the status quo,'' Bush said, ``and the comments and actions made by the leader of Taiwan indicate that he may be willing to make decisions unilaterally, to change the status quo, which we oppose.'' It was the administration's strongest statement to date in opposition to Taiwan's plan to conduct a defensive referendum on March 20. Bush said his administration sees this as an indirect step toward independence. Wen said China's goal is to pursue peaceful reunification with Taiwan, ``as long as a glimmer of hope'' exists. ``Stability can only be maintained through unswerving opposition to pro-independence activities,'' Wen said. He said China sought to maintain a system of ``one country, two systems.'' ``We will do our utmost to bring about national reunification through peaceful means,'' Wen said. ``The Chinese government respects the desire of people in Taiwan for democracy, but we must point out that the (Taiwanese leaders) are only using democracy as an excuse and attempt to resort to defensive referendums to split Taiwan away from China,'' he said.
On the issue of stability on the Korean peninsula, the United States hopes to
be able to negotiate an end to North Korea's nuclear weapons program, with
assistance from China. The other countries, aside from China and the United States, are the two
Koreas, Japan and Russia.
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