Fed: Downer denies sending wrong message to China on Taiwan

AAP General News (Australia)
08-20-2004
Fed: Downer denies sending wrong message to China on Taiwan

Foreign Minister ALEXANDER DOWNER denies sending the wrong message to China by saying
Australia is not bound to help the United States defend Taiwan in any future military
action.

Mr DOWNER says he hadn't speculated on what stance Australia would take in a war between
China and its island province when he told reporters in Beijing that the ANZUS treaty
did not mean Australia had to automatically join the US in all military action.

The remarks were interpreted as a radical departure from the US position on Taiwan.

But Mr DOWNER says he doesn't know how different countries would react if China and
Taiwan were to go to war.

And he says it's useless to speculate on what countries would do in a circumstance
which is entirely hypothetical.

AAP RTV mfh/jv/wz/psm/

KEYWORD: CHINA AUST (CANBERRA)

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