White House Statement on Taiwan Election

Administration again calls on Taipei and Beijing to resolve their differences through negotiations and to not unilaterally alter the cross-straits status quo.

Statement on Taiwan Elections
Statement by the Press Secretary
Announcement of Election Results on Taiwan

We join the American people in congratulating the people of Taiwan on the
successful conclusion of their March 20 presidential election. Taiwan's
Central Election Commission on March 26 officially proclaimed that Mr.
Chen Shui-bian has won reelection, and we congratulate Mr. Chen on his
victory.

We recognize that there are pending legal challenges to the results of the
March 20 election. We applaud the people of Taiwan for embracing
established legal mechanisms and rejecting extra-legal options to resolve
their differences. We reject calls for violence, which threaten the very
democratic principles to which we and the people of Taiwan are committed.

The maintenance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the
welfare of the people of Taiwan remain of profound importance to the
United States. To advance these goals, the United States will fulfill its
obligations under the Taiwan Relations Act. It falls to Taiwan and Beijing
to build the essential foundations for peace and stability by pursuing
dialogue through all available means and refraining from unilateral steps
that would alter Taiwan's status.

We will continue to maintain close unofficial ties with the people on
Taiwan through the American Institute in Taiwan in accordance with our one
China policy, as embodied in the Taiwan Relations Act and our three Joint
Communiqus with the People's Republic of China.

Date Posted: 3/26/2004