Responding to reporters’ questions at the State Department, Rice said the United States expects that neither China nor Taiwan will take any steps to unilaterally change the status quo in the Taiwan Strait.

The news conference was held for journalists from around the world taking part in the Edward R. Murrow Program for Journalists sponsored by the International Visitor Leadership Program.

Asked if the U.S. policy of providing Taiwan with weapons for its self-defenseneeds would change if cross strait tensions were triggered by moves by Taiwan toward de jure independence, Rice said that Washington expects both sides of the Taiwan Strait to respect the “one China” policy, adding that “we have obligations under the Taiwan Relations Act to help Taiwan defend itself, and we will carry out those obligations through the military cooperation that we have with Taiwan.”

Rice said she does not believe that anyone would benefit from the outbreak of conflict in the Taiwan Strait, adding that Washington has repeatedly stated its polices regarding the Taiwan Strait and has made clear that it supports cross-strait dialogue and cross-strait interactions.

“There actually is a lot of trade and economic development across the straits, and I think that is also a buffer against conflict,” she continued.

“It’s my very strong view that this should not and will not change as a result of ‘08 because it’s been a standing policy of the United States for many, many years,” she added.

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