There was no immediate response to Mr Bush's later attempt to backtrack on what he had said about US military involvement. The new US Administration's policy toward Taiwan is consistent with its commitments in the Taiwan Relations Act. The act obliges the US to provide Taiwan with weapons to defend itself but is ambiguous on whether US forces would be used in its defence.
Nobody wants war.
Mr Bush's comments made the front pages of Taiwan's leading papers and were broadcast at the start of TV news bulletins.