WASHINGTON, Dec. 9 (UPI) -- President George W. Bush warned China Tuesday not to use coercion or force against Taiwan and also warned Taiwan not to follow a path of a unilaterally declaring independence from the mainland, senior administration officials said.
Bush's temporary lifting on long-standing ambiguity on the China-Taiwan situation came in public and private statements during almost two hours of talks with visiting Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao.
"I think the president made a very clear comment in regard to the question of Taiwan and the cross-strait relationship (with China)," an official said on condition of anonymity. "We are in no way abandoning support for Taiwan's democracy or for the spread of freedom. However, we are seeing developments on both sides of the strait, forcing us to drop some of the ambiguity that has been in the policy in the past."
The official said Bush told Wen "in no uncertain terms that we, the United States, would have to get involved if China tried to use coercion or force to unilaterally change the status of Taiwan."
"And it was in that context that we have been telling Taiwan increasingly clearly that likewise we would not welcome any moves on the part of Taiwan to change the status quo."
Increased tensions between China and Taiwan, which it regards as a wayward province, have sent alarm bells ringing in Washington and capitals throughout the Asia-Pacific region.
For months Beijing has been deploying a wall of ballistic missiles across the strait facing Taiwan, prompting fears of attack in the Taipei government.
In Taiwan itself, however, President Chen Shui-bian is facing a hotly contested re-election race and has begun what observers believe is playing the nationalist card. He has called for a referendum on Taiwan's constitution and has slated a referendum on China's missile threat to dovetail with March balloting.
China sees the referendum as a clear sign of moving toward a unilateral declaration of independence, a view Washington apparently is increasingly sharing.
"We oppose any unilateral decision by either China or Taiwan to change the status quo," Bush said during a break with his talks with Wen. "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."
Officials said that behind closed doors, the president reiterated U.S. adherence to recognizing Beijing as China's legitimate government, but was also "forceful" on the issue of not taking military action against Taiwan.
"He made it clear: 'Look, if you try to use force or coercion against the Taiwanese, we're going to be there.'"
The United States, since President Richard Nixon's 1972 trip to Beijing, has supported the so-called "One-China Policy," which recognizes Beijing as the legitimate and sole government of China. But it also provides Taiwan, founded by Nationalists fleeing Communist rule, with defensive weapons under the Taiwan Relations Act.
The administration fears a unilateral move by either party would lead to war.
China has said it seeks peaceful reunification with Taiwan under a One-Country, Two-Systems policy similar to that employed in its reclamation of Hong Kong from the British.
Wen Tuesday said China could not tolerate an independence move by Taiwan since it would threaten the unity of China, but added that "as long as there is a glimmer of hope, we would not give up our efforts" to bring Taiwan back into the fold peacefully.
Officials said Wen and Bush met for 40 minutes in the Oval Office and then again with senior economic aides in the White House Cabinet Room for another 40 minutes before the two had a "small, intimate" lunch in the president's residential quarters.
Other topics discussed included joint efforts to maneuver North Korea into abandoning its nuclear weapons program in a permanent and verifiable way. Trade also figured prominently, including U.S. pressure to open its market more to U.S. goods and for Beijing to remove its imposed low exchange rate for the local currency, which makes is products more competitive on the international scene.
The China-U.S. trade deficit is more than $100 million in China's advantage.
Officials said Bush also pressed Wen on greater religious freedom in China and closer adherence to human rights standards.
Wen assumed office a year ago and is one of the so-called fourth generation of leaders since the Communists took control of the mainland more than 50 years ago.
The White House rolled out the red carpet for Wen, with an official welcome on the South Lawn a 19-gun salute and an honor guard.
