Bush Visit to Asia
[Congressional Action] [Speeches and Reports] [Policy Sites] [News] [Papers]
2005-2006
~2004
U.S. Policy on Taiwan an 'Inseparable
Package': Rice
(CNA, Oct. 26, 2006) The U.S. government's policy on Taiwan is comprised of
an inseparable "package" including its commitment to help Taiwan
defend itself, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said.
Bush Sets Defense As Space
Priority
(Washington Post, Oct. 18, 2006) President Bush
has signed a new National Space Policy that rejects future arms-control
agreements that might limit U.S. flexibility
in space and asserts a right to deny access to space to anyone "hostile
to U.S. interests."
US Puts Direct Links before FTA
(Taipei Times, July 22, 2006) Karan
Bhatia recommended Taiwan open to China before the US considers inking a
free-trade pact during a hearing on international relations in Washington.
House Passes Provision
Boosting Taiwan Ties
(LA Times, June 29, 2006) The House voted for
a measure lifting some decades-old restrictions on contacts U.S. officials can have
with Taiwan. The legislation has
not been considered by the Senate.
US Renews Security Pledge to
Taiwan Despite Chen's Stopover Snub (AFP, May 12, 2006) The
United States reaffirmed its security pledge to Taiwan and said relations
would be unaffected by disagreements over President Chen Shui-bian's
planned US stopover.
US to Blame for Changes in
Flight Plan, Says Taiwan
(AP, May 6, 2006) Taiwan's Foreign Minister blamed US officials for revealing
information about a planned transit in Lebanon that led to President Chen Shui-bian's plane changing its flight plan in mid-air and
making an unscheduled landing in the United Arab Emirates.
Taiwan President Lands in
Abu Dhabi After US Snub
(Reuters, May 5, 2006) Taiwan's president landed in Abu Dhabi for a refueling stop
after turning down Washington's offer to transit in Alaska when the U.S. scotched plans for an
overnight stay in New York.
Taiwan Leader Rejects Offer
of U.S. Stop
(AP, May 4, 2006) Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian
will not fly through the United States during his trip to Latin America, the Foreign Ministry
said, signaling a rift between Taipei and its longtime ally
Washington.
U.S. Says No to Overnight
Stay for Taiwanese Leader
(New York Times, May 4, 2006) Taiwan's president, Chen Shui-bian, delayed an
overseas trip at the last minute after the United States denied him
permission to stop overnight on American soil, a diplomatic setback for the
independence-leaning Taiwanese leader.
US Response Puts Chen's S.
America Trip in Limbo
(Straits Times, May 3, 2006) Taiwan's President Chen Shui-bian may be forced
to postpone a visit to Central and South America, Taipei said on the eve of
his trip, after a request to transit in the US was reportedly turned down by
Washington.
US Restates Taiwan Commitment
(CNA, Mar.
11, 2006) William Fallon, commander of
the US Pacific Command (PACOM), reaffirmed Washington's
commitment to defend Taiwan against any military action by China,
while again urging Taiwan to beef up its capability to defend itself.
Rice Scolds Taiwan in House Hearing
(Taipei Times, Feb. 18, 2006) US
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Thursday that the US
hasn't always received a "satisfactory" response from Taiwan
with regard to US efforts to help modernize the Taiwanese military.
Pentagon Report Singles out
China as Potential Military Rival
(AFP, Feb. 4,
2006) A major review of US
military strategy singled out China
as the country with the greatest potential to challenge the United States militarily.
Taiwan Policy Is Still the
Same, Claim US Officials
(CNA, Oct.
9, 2005) The US Department of Defense
said that its policy toward Taiwan
remains unchanged and that the weaponry the US
plans to sell to the country is defensive rather than offensive.
Taipei Welcomes Bush's
Renewed Security Pledge
(China Post, June 10, 2005) Bush repeated
the pledge in an interview with Fox News TV Channel. He said, "If China
were to invade unilaterally, we would rise up in the spirit of Taiwan
Relations Act." …if Taiwan
were to declare independence, "it would be a unilateral decision that
then change the U.S. equation."
AIT Official Meets with DPP
Legislative Caucus
(Taipei Times, Feb. 23, 2005) The US government
might pressure China over its proposed
"anti-secession law," an American Institute in Taiwan (AIT)
official said.
Bill Introduced in US
Congress to Restore Diplomatic Ties with Taiwan (AP, Feb. 17, 2005) A bipartisan resolution has
been introduced in the House of Representatives demanding resumption of
diplomatic ties with Taiwan.
Time Right
for a US-Taiwan FTA By Claude Barfield
(TT, Oct. 24, 2006) U.S. shift toward bilateral free
trade agreements (FTAs) with willing partners will
bring into stark relief a major dilemma for US trade and diplomatic policy:
the increasing political and economic isolation of Taiwan within the region.
A Strange Calculus By Gary J. Schmitt, Dan Blumenthal
(Wall Street
Journal Asia, Aug. 21, 2006) U.S. Secretary of
Defense Donald Rumsfeld last month wrote to the
U.S. Congress opposing a measure calling for upgraded military exchanges with
Taiwan. The measure in question ought not
to be contentious. Washington has a vital interest in
encouraging Taiwan to improve its defensive
capabilities.
The US Ignores Asia at Its
Peril By Richard Halloran
(Taipei Times, Aug 12, 2006) With fighting in Iraq, Israel and Afghanistan and ominous noises
coming from Iran, Washington is neglecting the very
part of the world that has become the 'center of gravity.'
Turf
Battles Characterize US' Taiwan Policy
(Taipei Times, July 10, 2006) Some analysts interviewed by the Taipei Times have talked about
a "dysfunctional" US
policy toward Taiwan as a result of turf battles, ineffective communication and snap
judgments.
US Plan for Defending Taiwan
Disclosed By Charles Snyder
(Taipei Times, June 5, 2006) The US military has developed a comprehensive operational plan
to fight China and defend Taiwan in case of a Chinese attack. The plan, which
is overseen by the US Pacific Command headquartered in Honolulu, involves not only US
Pacific forces, but also US troops and equipment worldwide.
Pentagon Seeks Nonnuclear
Tip for Sub Missiles By Michael R. Gordon
(New
York Times, May 29, 2007) The Pentagon is pressing Congress to approve the
development of a new weapon that would enable the United States to carry out nonnuclear missile strikes against distant targets within
an hour.
Annual Report to Congress: Military Power of the
People's Republic of China (United States Department of
Defense, May 24, 2006) This report addresses (1) China’s grand strategy,
security strategy, and military strategy; (2) developments in China’s
military doctrine and force structure, to include developments in advanced
technologies which would enhance China’s military capabilities; and, (3) the
security situation in the Taiwan Strait.
Robert Zoellick's Testimony
on China, Taiwan
(Hearing of the House International Relations Committee, May 10, 2006) The
debate in Washington foreign policy circles as to whether China is a, quote,
"responsible stakeholder" or a rising challenge presents a false
dichotomy. Nearly three decades after we normalized relations, it is self-evident
that China is both.
The Bush Administration
Snubs Taiwan By Ted Galen Carpenter (Foxnews.com, May 12,
2006) Throughout his presidency, Chen has pushed the envelope on Taiwanese
independence, often infuriating Beijing and heightening tensions in the
Taiwan Strait. He also has tended to blind side the United States with his
initiatives.
Stopover Snub a Message to
Chen over China Issue By Eugene Low
(Straits
Times, May 6, 20060 The United States, in refusing to allow Taiwan's
President Chen Shui-bian to transit in its major cities, is warning the
pro-independence leader against making further moves that could raise
tensions with China, observers say.
Expert Says 'Breach of
Faith' Spurred U.S. Decision
(Central News Agency, May 5, 2006) A breach of faith by Taiwan could have
been responsible for Washington's decision to limit President Chen Shui-bian's planned transit stops in the United States
during his latest Latin American visit.
Book Argues US Must Stay Out
of China-Taiwan Spat
(Reuters, Apr. 14, 2006) The United States should renounce military
commitments to Taiwan to avoid a potentially costly conflict if the island
declares independence from China, said Ted Galen Carpenter which warns of a
U.S.-China war within the next decade.
US Security Report Calls for
More Reform in China By Charles
Snyder (Taipei Times, Mar. 17, 2006) US President
George W. Bush has repeated his call for a peaceful resolution of
cross-strait tensions, warning China that it should not use coercive measures
against Taiwan, and warning both sides against actions that change the
"status quo." The call was contained in the president's National
Security Strategy, a 49-page report released yesterday by the National
Security Council.
Guam to Become the 'Pivot
Point' for the US' Pacific Forces By Richard Halloran
(Taipei Times, Mar. 14, 2006) The US Pacific Command
is recasting the posture of its military forces in the western Pacific and
Asia with the new pivot point to be a robust base on the island of Guam. The
operative watchword has already become "flexibility."
Senior Taiwan Officials’
Comments on National Unification Council
(U.S. State Department, Mar. 3, 2006) We expect the Taiwan authorities
publicly to correct the record and unambiguously affirm that the February 27
announcement did not abolish the National Unification Council, did not change
the status quo, and that the assurances remain in effect.
Pentagon Official Voices
China-Taiwan Concerns
(Reuters, Feb. 9, 2006) China may be preparing to deal with its dispute over
Taiwan through other than political means as it increases its offensive
military power, a top Pentagon official said.
America Missing Out in Asia By Brad Glosserman
(Japan Times, Jan. 26, 2006) The structure of global power is shifting, and
Asia is finally emerging as one of the pillars of the international system.
The failure to appreciate the forces at work in the region means that the
U.S. will miss a chance to harness Asia's dynamism and energy to U.S.
interests.
Bush to Asia: Freedom Is
More Than Markets By Dan
Blumenthal and Tom Donnelly (Washington Post, Nov. 27, 2005) The president's just-concluded
Asian trip bore signs that his devotion to democracy is beginning to shape
American strategy beyond the "greater Middle East," calling into
question the policy of economic engagement.
US Needs to Delink Taiwan
and China
(Editorial, Taipei Times, Nov. 18, 2005) Eventually the US must realize that
the "Taiwan issue" can not be treated as a subset of the
"China issue." This approach may have had currency in 1951, but it makes little
sense now.
America’s Bismarckian Asia
Policy By Eric Heginbotham
and Christopher P. Twomey (Current History, Sep. 2005) US policy is not achieving the goals
set out for it. It is ceding regional leadership while seeding regional
rivalry. It is missing opportunities to help shape the development of a
new security environment through regional institutions and instead
acting to exacerbate the rise of nationalism.
US Needs Real Experts on
Taiwan By Nat Bellocchi
(Taipei Times, Aug. 25, 2005) There is, therefore, an important need for the
US to have Taiwan experts (not China experts with a little knowledge of
Taiwan) following events there, and the same could be said of Taiwan in
understanding the US.
U.S. Congressman Aims to
Boost Taiwan Security
(Central Agency News, July 30, 2005) U.S. Congressman Robert Andrews
(Democrat, New Jersey) submitted a concurrent resolution Thursday, calling
for enhanced security for Taiwan.
US Should Keep Its Hands Off
Taiwan
(China Daily, July 29, 2005) The clear shift from "strategic ambiguity" to
"strategic clarity" will encourage the "Taiwan
independence" forces, especially the politicians, to push the envelope.
China's New Power (NYT, May 7, 2005) By working out clear understandings with
Beijing on regional issues today, Washington could help avoid unnecessary and
highly destructive future conflicts.
The Complexity of Taiwan's
Ties With Lobbyists By
Judy Sarasohn (Washington
Post, Apr. 21, 2005) Taiwan's relationships with its Washington lobbyists are
sometimes as complicated and tortuous as its relationship with the U.S.
government.
US Must Be More Active in
Strait By Nat Bellocch
(Taipei Times, Feb. 15, 2005) Cross-strait relations are getting more
complicated. To keep up with the changes, the US will need much better
communication channels and more experts on its relations with Taiwan.
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