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CNN Live At Daybreak
Tough Talk For Taiwan
Aired December 10, 2003 - 06:31 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Tensions in Asia. Despite a blunt warning from President Bush, Taiwan's president is defending plans to hold a referendum demanding that China reduce its military threat against the island. President Bush says Washington is committed, though, to a one-China policy at an event Tuesday with the Chinese premier, and stated the U.S. position in a definitive statement.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We oppose any unilateral decision by either China or Taiwan to change the status quo.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: So, is another crisis brewing in the region? Our Mike Chinoy is live via videophone from Taipei.
Good morning -- Mike.
MIKE CHINOY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.
COSTELLO: Good morning. President Bush had some pretty harsh words for Taiwan's president. What's the reaction there?
CHINOY: Well, the rebuke from President Bush was perhaps the sternest language any American president has used towards Taiwan in decades, but the reaction here has been one of determination to carry on.
Taiwan's president, Chen Shui-bian, says he'll go ahead and hold this controversial referendum. Both the United States and China, and many independent diplomats and political analysts, believe that this referendum is intended to emphasize Taiwan's separateness from China and could lay the groundwork for another referendum down the road on independence.
And China, of course, has said it would go to war to prevent Taiwan from becoming independent, and Mr. Bush wants to prevent another crisis here, when he's got enough on his plate with events in Iraq, the nuclear crisis in North Korea and his own re-election bid -- Carol.
COSTELLO: It's a complicated issue. Explain to our viewers what Taiwan wants China to do with its missiles.
CHINOY: Well, the referendum is designed as an expression of public will. China has deployed nearly 500 medium-range missiles on the Chinese coast about 90 miles from here. The Chinese insist they will use force in the end if they dont' have some movement towards reunification. China, of course, claims Taiwan as a renegade province.
The speculation, however, is that President Chen wants to use this referendum to generate more popular support for his own re- election bid. It's not a coincidence that the referendum will be held in March on the same day as Taiwan's presidential election.
COSTELLO: Mike Chinoy reporting live from Taiwan this morning. And some analysts say the bottom line is President Bush needs China's help right now to stabilize the region and to insist that China will with the North Korean problem. Mike Chinoy, many thanks to you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
Aired December 10, 2003 - 06:31 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Tensions in Asia. Despite a blunt warning from President Bush, Taiwan's president is defending plans to hold a referendum demanding that China reduce its military threat against the island. President Bush says Washington is committed, though, to a one-China policy at an event Tuesday with the Chinese premier, and stated the U.S. position in a definitive statement.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We oppose any unilateral decision by either China or Taiwan to change the status quo.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: So, is another crisis brewing in the region? Our Mike Chinoy is live via videophone from Taipei.
Good morning -- Mike.
MIKE CHINOY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.
COSTELLO: Good morning. President Bush had some pretty harsh words for Taiwan's president. What's the reaction there?
CHINOY: Well, the rebuke from President Bush was perhaps the sternest language any American president has used towards Taiwan in decades, but the reaction here has been one of determination to carry on.
Taiwan's president, Chen Shui-bian, says he'll go ahead and hold this controversial referendum. Both the United States and China, and many independent diplomats and political analysts, believe that this referendum is intended to emphasize Taiwan's separateness from China and could lay the groundwork for another referendum down the road on independence.
And China, of course, has said it would go to war to prevent Taiwan from becoming independent, and Mr. Bush wants to prevent another crisis here, when he's got enough on his plate with events in Iraq, the nuclear crisis in North Korea and his own re-election bid -- Carol.
COSTELLO: It's a complicated issue. Explain to our viewers what Taiwan wants China to do with its missiles.
CHINOY: Well, the referendum is designed as an expression of public will. China has deployed nearly 500 medium-range missiles on the Chinese coast about 90 miles from here. The Chinese insist they will use force in the end if they dont' have some movement towards reunification. China, of course, claims Taiwan as a renegade province.
The speculation, however, is that President Chen wants to use this referendum to generate more popular support for his own re- election bid. It's not a coincidence that the referendum will be held in March on the same day as Taiwan's presidential election.
COSTELLO: Mike Chinoy reporting live from Taiwan this morning. And some analysts say the bottom line is President Bush needs China's help right now to stabilize the region and to insist that China will with the North Korean problem. Mike Chinoy, many thanks to you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
