USA: U.S. supports further relations with Libya but continues opposition to Taiwan independence

Record ID: 830608

  • Title: USA: U.S. supports further relations with Libya but continues opposition to Taiwan independence
  • Date: 22nd December 2007
  • Summary: (W4) WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES (DECEMBER 21, 2007) (POOL) (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE CONDOLEEZZA RICE, SAYING: "We have a "one China" policy and we do not support independence for Taiwan. As we have stated in recent months, we think that Taiwan's referendum to apply to the United Nations under the name Taiwan is a provocative policy. It unnecessarily raises tensions in the Taiwan Strait and it promises no real benefits for the people of Taiwan on the international stage. That is why we oppose this referendum."
  • Embargoed: 6th January 2008 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Usa
  • Country: USA
  • Reuters ID: LVA4BONJ5LC7093P7NC0DBDBKE4A
  • Story Text: Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says U.S. wants to further its relationship with Libya, but tells Taiwan it still believes in a "one China" policy as the nation continues to seek independence.
    In an end of the year foreign policy review on Friday (December 21), U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called Taipei's bid to join the U.N.
    "provocative" and said a visit to Libya would be an "important step" in U.S. - Libya relations.
    Rice told reporters the U.S. opposes Taiwan's plan to hold a referendum on joining the United Nations and said the bid would be unhelpful.
    Taiwan's ruling party plans to stage a referendum alongside presidential elections in March, ignoring warnings from Washington and threats from China, which claims sovereignty over the self-ruled island of 23 million.

    "We think that Taiwan's referendum to apply to the United Nations under the name 'Taiwan' is a provocative policy," Rice said, reinstating U.S. opposition both to Taiwan independence and to the use of force by China to solve the dispute.

    "It unnecessarily raises tensions in the Taiwan strait and it promises no real benefits for the people of Taiwan on the international stage -- that is why we oppose this referendum," she said.
    Communist China has claimed sovereignty over democratic Taiwan since the Chinese civil war ended in 1949, and Beijing has threatened to use force if the island formally declares statehood.
    Washington switched diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 1979, recognizing "one China", but remains Taiwan's biggest ally and is obliged by the Taiwan Relations Act to help the island defend itself.
    Rice also told reporters she wanted to visit Libya, saying it would be an "important step" in cementing ties with the former foe, but provided no date for a trip.
    Libyan Foreign Minister Mohammed Abdel-Rahman Shalgam is set to meet Rice in Washington on Jan. 3, and Rice told reporters she was looking forward to going to Libya herself.
    Libya has been pushing hard for a visit by Rice to Tripoli, which would be an obvious sign of closer ties between the two countries.

    "I actually look forward to the opportunity to go to Libya. I think it will be an important step," Rice told reporters.
    U.S.-Libyan ties have warmed since Libya gave up weapons of mass destruction in 2003, but have been held back by the absence of any final settlements resolving the 1988 Pan Am 103 bombing over Lockerbie, Scotland, as well as the 1986 bombing of a German disco. Americans were killed in both attacks.
    Libya was implicated in both incidents and it had agreed to pay the families of Lockerbie victims $10 million per victim but has not made the final payment. It has also not paid compensation for U.S. victims of the La Belle disco bombing in West Berlin.
    Rice said she was looking for an "opportunity to extend our relationship further," and pointed to Tripoli's closer ties to the West in general, including new investment opportunities in Libya, a major oil producer.
    If Rice visits Libya before President George W. Bush leaves office in January 2009, she would be the highest-level U.S. visitor to the country in more than half a century.
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