If you pour oil and fuel over this spark, we don't want to see the flame of war there. Too close to call' Qian's blunt words have reinforced concern in Washington that the United States could be in for a rough period with China if the United States proceeds with the sale of the destroyers to Taiwan. President Bush has voiced strong support for building an American national missile defense system and some of his top advisers are on record as advocating the sale of sophisticated weapons to Taiwan, making a U.S. defense commitment more explicit. However, senior U.S. officials have stated publicly, and have told me privately, that no decision has been made. Over the past 22 years, Beijing has been very wary of U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, a presumed U.S. commitment to come to the island's assistance, and fears that the United States was upgrading its relations with the government there.
China regards Taiwan as a renegade province, determined to resist reunification.
Changing tactics Qian appears to have minced his words with the new American president for several reasons. For example, Chinese missile deployments in the province opposite Taiwan have hardened views in the U.S. Congress. In addition, a hard-lined approach toward Taiwan has not paid off for China. Saber rattling in 1996 brought a toughening of attitudes in Taiwan and produced a pro-independence president in Taiwan's elections last year. Qian's blunt comments and restraint with the president were carefully calculated with the intent of making China's views very clear, without being confrontational with the Bush administration.