The US yesterday extended to Taiwan its first explicit defence commitment in a move likely to enrage the Chinese government.
Although President Bush clearly bowed to moderates in his party two days ago in refusing to sell Taiwan the Aegis radar system, his public commitment that the US would do "whatever it takes" to defend Taiwan against Chinese aggression marks a serious escalation in the war of words between the US and China. No immediate response was forthcoming from Beijing to Mr Bush's comments, but the Chinese yesterday called in the US Ambassador, Mr Joseph Prueher, to hear the strongest protest yet about the arms package unveiled on Tuesday.
The sales will cause "devastating damage" to Sino-US relations, with co-operation on non-proliferation the first casualty, he was told .
"The Chinese government and people express strong indignation and absolute opposition to this decision of the United States government", the Vice Foreign Minister, Mr Li Zhaoxing, told Mr Prueher.
The decision "will have a grave impact on China-US co-operation in the sphere of non-proliferation and bring devastating damage to China-US relations", Mr Li said.
He also threatened further consequences, saying "China reserves the right to make a further reaction".
Asked in the ABC interview if Washington had an obligation to defend the Taiwanese in the event of attack by China, which considers the island a renegade province, Mr Bush said: "Yes, we do . . . and the Chinese must understand that. Yes, I would."
When asked whether the US would use "the full force of the American military", Mr Bush responded: "Whatever it took to help Taiwan defend herself."
Later on CNN, Mr Bush elaborated, insisting that did not mean the US had broken with its longstanding support for the one-China policy under which the island is regarded as part of China. Asked whether such a pledge would also cover Taiwan if it declared independence, the President said he "hoped that Taiwan will continue to adhere to the one-China policy," which a declaration of independence would clearly be a in breach of.
Traditionally the US has refused to go beyond private verbal assurances to the Taiwanese, precisely for fear of prompting such a declaration, which would be seen to seriously destabilise the region. Most US experts on China believe that an independence declaration would almost certainly tip the balance in Beijing in favour of hard-liners and precipitate some form of Chinese military action, most probably a blockade of the island but possibly even an attack.
