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American Morning

President Bush Says United States Will Defend Taiwan From Chinese Attack

Aired April 25, 2001 - 09:04   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.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, there's been no reaction from China today on some very straightforward comments by President Bush about defending Taiwan. In a television interview, Mr. Bush used strong, specific language to express support for Taiwan.

CNN White House correspondent Kelly Wallace joins us now with the details.

Good morning, Kelly.

KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Kyra.

Well, for 20 years, Kyra, there has been an ambiguity in the United States concerning its policy towards Taiwan -- the U.S. implying, but never explicitly stating that the United States would defend Taiwan if it were attacked by the Chinese.

Well, now President Bush appears to be the first U.S. president to say that the U.S. would definitely -- explicitly stating the U.S. would defend Taiwan.

In an interview with ABC, the president was asked if the U.S. would use the full force of the American military. Mr. Bush told ABC -- quote -- "Whatever it took to help Taiwan defend herself."

Now, White House press secretary Ari Fleischer tells CNN that Mr. Bush was repeating comments he made during the presidential campaign -- Fleischer pointing us to words Mr. Bush put forward during a presidential debate in March of 2000.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, MARCH 2, 2000)

GOV. GEORGE W. BUSH (R-TX), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: What the Chinese need to assume is that if they violate the one-China policy -- the long-standing one-China policy -- which has clearly said that the United States expects there to be a peaceful resolution between China and Taiwan -- if they decide to use force, the United States must help Taiwan defend itself. Now, the Chinese can figure out what that means. But that's going to mean a resolute stand on my part.

(END VIDEO CLIP) WALLACE: And there is something called the Taiwan Relations Act. It was passed in 1979. And it really guides U.S. policy concerning Taiwan. In that act, it does not guarantee that the U.S. would defend Taiwan if Taiwan were attacked by the Chinese. But it does say that any threat against Taiwan would be viewed as a serious concern in the United States.

This act also requires the United States to provide weapons to Taiwan so that it can defend itself against any attack. Again, a senior administration official is saying that the president is sort of deliberately vague about just what the United States would do, but this official not disagreeing with the assessment that this is the strongest and most specific language used to date by a U.S. president concerning U.S. actions with Taiwan -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right, Kelly Wallace, live from the White House, thanks so much.

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