The journalist in me would've given most anything to have been a fly on the wall when Condi Rice warned Jiang Zemin that Bush would indeed "defend Taiwan in case of attack." Something tells me that Mr. Jiang flinched nary a muscle nor batted an eye. The Bush administration's bully-factor isn't playing as well on fellow world leaders these days; it is a natural by-product of "Talking loudly while carrying a half-cocked stick."
BEIJING -- Chinese President Hu Jintao on Friday reiterated to US National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice that Beijing has "serious" concerns about Taiwan's move toward independence.
Rice, on the second day of a 24-hour visit, met with Hu only hours after military strongman and former president Jiang Zemin told her that China would not "sit idle" if foreign forces supported Taiwan independence.
"We have been always of the view that it is very important for the healthy and stable development of Sino-US relations, for the leaders of our two countries to maintain constant communication and consultations about China-US relations," Hu said.
"This is also helpful for you to get a comprehensive understanding about the great deal of importance that we attach to the development of Sino-US relations and also our serious concerns over the question of Taiwan."
In talks with Jiang Thursday, Rice reiterated US commitments to defend Taiwan in case of attack.
She told Hu that US President George W. Bush intends to maintain high-level contacts with the Chinese leadership to improve economic and trade relations and cooperation in the global war on terror.
"Our relationship is developing in a very promising way," Rice said.
"The president wants to make very certain that we have continuous discussions about our relationship and that we do them in an atmosphere of mutual respect."
Rice's visit comes as both China and the United States are separately gearing up to hold massive war games in the Western Pacific that are both seen to be developing in the context of a crisis in the Taiwan Strait.
China is due to begin amphibious-landing war exercises on a group of small islands in the Taiwan Straits this month, further signaling its readiness to invade Taiwan should it declare formal independence.
Meanwhile, the US navy is reportedly gathering up to six aircraft carrier strike groups in the Western Pacific as part of its newly unveiled Fleet Response Plan.
