US again warns Taiwan leader over independence remarks

If Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian remains stiff-necked with abolishing the "National Unification Council (NUC)" and the "National Unification Guidelines", he must take the "overall results" of such remarks of his, which would include Taiwan's relations with the United States, the Chinese mainland as well as the international community, a senior official with the Bush administration warned again on Sunday.

Receiving an interview with Taiwan media, the anonymous official said that the United States and Taiwan are still talking on the differences caused by Chen's "Taiwan independence" remarks since the Chinese Lunar New Year, trying to find a way to narrow the "gap". But no progress has been made by now and the talks may have come to a "deadlock".

The official, who is familiar with cross-Straits affairs, stressed repeatedly that the U.S. policy is to maintain the status quo of the Taiwan Straits and oppose attempt from any party to change it. The policy, a commitment as solid as a rock, has been reaffirmed again and again by President Bush, and will be continuously reaffirmed since the policy will remain unchanged.

By People's Daily Online