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Updated Wednesday, August 20, 2008 0:00 am TWN, By Frank Ching, Special to The China Post

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Cross-strait ties need U.S. balance

U.S. President George W. Bush’s decision to attend the Olympic Games despite domestic political pressure reflects his realization that it is important to establish a balance, so while the United States may chide Beijing from time to time on human rights, the overall approach is one of engagement. This policy has been largely successful and ought to be continued by whoever succeeds him in the White House.

In what was probably his last major policy address on Asia before leaving office, Bush said in Bangkok the Taiwan issue was a “key area of cooperation” between Washington and Beijing responsible for the peace and stability that now characterizes the Taiwan Strait.

It was not always like that. Early in his administration Bush wanted to upgrade relations with Taiwan and saw China as a strategic competitor, but September 11 put paid to such notions.

In the speech, the president took a strong stand on human rights, declaring: “America stands in firm opposition to China’s detention of political dissidents and human rights advocates and religious activists.”

China no doubt understands the political pressure Bush was under. After all, the House of Representatives had called on Bush in a 419-1 vote to make a strong public statement while attending the Olympics.

Beijing was so appreciative of his determination to attend the Games that, asked about his address, a foreign ministry spokesman, while asserting that China strongly opposed “using human right and religious issues to interfere in other countries’ internal affairs,” emphasized that Sino-American relations “have kept a sound momentum of development over the past years” and “the two sides have conducted effective dialogue, exchanges and cooperation in extensive bilateral fields and major international and regional issues.”

This was in stark contrast to China’s reaction to the congressional resolution, which was condemned as the action of “a handful of anti-China congressmen” with “ulterior motives to politicize, disrupt and sabotage the Beijing Olympic Games.”

From China’s standpoint, the U.S. and China have had a relatively good relationship, with literally dozens of dialogues on a wide variety of topics and at various levels.

China is concerned that the new occupant of the White House, whomever it may be, may not continue such dialogues. Vice Premier Wang Qishan, who co-chaired the Strategic Economic Dialogue in Annapolis, Maryland in June with Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, called on China and the United States to continue to make good use of this “important platform.”

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