Bush on Taiwan

President Bush is embarking on a week's trip to Asia, during which he will visit Japan, Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Australia. Sunday in Bangkok, Mr. Bush is set to meet with the Red Chinese leader, President Hu. According to the Taipei Times, Mr. Bush's national security adviser, Condoleezza Rice, ahead of the meeting, has cautioned all parties to maintain the status-quo as regards cross-strait relations between China and Taiwan. Perhaps, however, the president could reestablish the status quo ante, meaning before the administration began a subtle climb down on the Taiwan issue.

In a briefing this summer after Mr. Bush met with Mr. Hu, a senior administration official told the press that, "On Taiwan, the president repeated our policy of a one-China policy based on the three communiqués, the Taiwan Relations Act, no support for Taiwan independence.…The president also said, however, within that context, if necessary, we will help Taiwan to the extent possible defend itself."This statement was in contrast to the president's statement in a 2001 interview with ABC, when asked whether America would use "the full force of the American military"to defend Taiwan in the case of a Chinese assault. The president's answer at the time: "Whatever it took to help Taiwan defend herself."

It may seem like splitting hairs, but the insertion this summer of the clause "to the extent possible" is quite a change from "whatever it took." America's one-China policy has always been a polite diplomatic fiction. There can be no neutrality between the communist dictatorship on the mainland and the fledgling and thriving democracy off its coast. Mr. Bush is famous for his lack of diplomatic refinement. It would be an encouraging sign here, and in Taiwan, for the president to make clear again this weekend that he has no time for niceties. America, if China were to push, would shove — with "whatever it took."