Real security does not flow from arms alone and reliance on military measures in lieu of other approaches will eventually jeopardize the democracy, prosperity, and security that the people of Taiwan now enjoy and the people of the P.R.C. expect to enjoy in the future. Of course, the United States Government will abide by the TRA and provide appropriate defense articles and services to Taiwan, first of all because it is the law, and second because such transfers will enhance Taiwan's confidence to engage the mainland. But a durable peace will rest less on arms than success in addressing differences through dialogue on a mutually acceptable basis. Thus, whereas such things as missiles and missile defense systems can ultimately not secure peace and prosperity, dialogue and difficult compromise can do so. Dialogue and compromise cannot be wedded to an imposed timetable.
Good faith is required of, and in the interest of, both sides.
The provisions of the TRA and general U.S. policy in the region will continue to contribute to an environment conducive to dialogue and therefore to finding a lasting resolution to differences across the Taiwan strait. Conclusion U.S. relations with the P.R.C. and the people of Taiwan are likely to be one of our most complex and important foreign policy challenges for many years to come. This Administration, like the five Republican and Democratic Administrations before it, firmly believes that the future of cross-strait relations is a matter for Beijing and Taipei to resolve. No Administration has taken a position on how or when they should do so. What we have said, and what I repeat here today, is that the United States has an abiding interest that any resolution be peaceful.