TAIPEI, Taiwan-President Bush’s bold comments about Taiwan provoked quick reactions of concern Thursday in Asia, where a war between China and Taiwan could devastate the region.
Bush told The Associated Press on Wednesday that U.S. military force is “certainly an option” if China strikes Taiwan. He later said that America has an obligation to defend Taiwan if China attacks.
China had no immediate comment about Bush’s comments, and Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry was also silent.
But Bush’s comments made the front-pages of Taiwan’s leading papers and they were broadcast at the top of TV newscasts. “Bush: If communist China attacks Taiwan, the US won’t rule out getting involved,” the Mandarin-language China Times said.
The Hong Kong Economic Journal said Bush’s blunt comments were a “huge change” that “would have far reaching consequences and poses a big challenge to China.”
