U.S. Relations With the People's Republic of China (2007)

U.S. Department of State

Daily Press Briefing

Sean McCormack, Spokesman
Washington, DC
January 31, 2007

12:40 p.m. EST

[ ...Intervening Text... ]

QUESTION: On Taiwan, John Negroponte yesterday was asked about Taiwan and he said as the UN and many others have said many times that the U.S. policy is based on the "One China" policy and the three communiqués. But he did not mention the Taiwan Relations Act. You haven't mentioned that in a while as well. I'm wondering if that's --

MR. MCCORMACK: It still applies and we still intend to live up to our obligations.

QUESTION: Thank you.

QUESTION: Do you know if John Negroponte said -- he indicated lots of concern about the proposal for a new constitution.

MR. MCCORMACK: I confess, George, I didn't read the entire transcript.

QUESTION: But he -- are you privately telling the President of Taiwan that it's not a good idea to advocate and push for a new constitution or change this constitution?

MR. MCCORMACK: We have made very clear what our policy is and it's no different than what you have heard in public.

[ ...Intervening Text... ]

QUESTION: And tell us quickly about the antiballistic missile test. China -- again I know we discussed this a couple of weeks ago but it's raised its head again on the Hill since (inaudible) a couple of days said that he's calling for new international standards in terms of military use in space. We've had a press conference day. A couple of Republican congressmen saying that Bush wasn't aggressive enough in his response. Anything (inaudible) on this, anymore meetings with China's officials or?

MR. MCCORMACK: I can't - I confess, I don't know if we've had any other interactions with them on it. We were pretty strong in our meetings in telling them that they needed to come clean fully in public as to what the data concerning this test, what the motivations behind the test were, what their plans were for future such tests and how this squared with their stated policy of not wanting to militarize space, so we're still waiting for those answers.

QUESTION: Thank you.

(The briefing was concluded at 1:23 p.m.)