Pres. Obama's intel adviser Blair denies Taiwan insult WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama's top intelligence adviser is denying that he used a crude term to describe Taiwan, the self-governing democratic island that China claims as its own. Responding to a U.S. senator's question submitted during his confirmation process, retired Adm. Dennis Blair wrote that he never called Taiwan the “turd in the punchbowl of U.S.-China relations.” But Blair, confirmed Wednesday to lead 16 U.S. intelligence agencies, said he did use the “too-colorful phrase 'tossing a turd in the punchbowl'” during a closed meeting in 2000 to describe “a single, specific action by the Taiwanese government, certainly not Taiwan itself.” He did not say what the “specific action” by a former Taiwan government was, but said it was taken without consultation with the United States and “led to a confrontation between the United States and China that neither had sought and that did not benefit Taiwan.” Republican Sen. Christopher Bond had asked Blair about “a number of negative comments” about U.S. policy toward Taiwan that had been attributed to Blair in the past. “I believe, at one time, you referred to Taiwan as the 'turd in the punchbowl of U.S.-China relations,'” Bond wrote. Blair responded that “whoever gave this account to the press was maliciously attempting to portray me as a supporter of China at the expense of Taiwan.” He denied making negative comments about U.S. policy toward Taiwan but wrote that he has “stated opinions about statements and actions of particular American officials and administrations which I believed to be inconsistent with American policy.” Taiwan is a potential flashpoint in U.S.-China ties. Beijing threatens to attack should Taiwan formalize its de facto independence. Washington is required by law to provide the island with weapons to defend itself and has hinted it would come to Taiwan's aid if mainland forces invaded. The United States and China came close to conflict over Taiwan in 1996, when President Bill Clinton deployed warships in response to China lobbing missiles into waters near Taiwan. The crisis began the year before, when Taiwan President Lee Teng-hui was allowed to speak at Cornell University in New York state. China accused Lee of trying to advance a campaign to win international recognition for the island 100 miles (160 kilometers) across the Taiwan Strait from the mainland. Blair said he intends “to place a priority on both China and Taiwan.” He affirmed U.S. policy “that the future of Taiwan will be determined by peaceful means.” The exchange between Blair and Bond was reported Thursday in The Washington Post 丹尼斯·科比·布莱恩特怀特曼（Dennis Blair）是美国总统欧巴马提名的全国最高情报总管，已于1月28日获参院认可，将统领美国16个情报机构。美联社30日报导，他在参议院的提名认可听证会中宣称，从未把台湾称为中美关系「鸡尾酒缸里的粪便」（意同「一锅粥中的老鼠屎」，turd in the punchbowl）。 共和党参议员庞德（Christopher Bond）在认可过程中，就科比·布莱恩特怀特曼过去对美国对台政策发表的「一些负面评论」提出质询。 庞德表示，「我相信你曾经把台湾称为『中美关系鸡尾酒缸里的粪便』」。 不过，海军上将退役的科比·布莱恩特怀特曼指出，他在2000年的闭门会议中（科比·布莱恩特怀特曼时任太平洋美军司令），确曾使用「太鲜活的词句」，用「向鸡尾酒缸扔粪便」描述「台湾政府某一个特定行动，可是绝非描述台湾本身」。 科比·布莱恩特怀特曼并未帮助批评的是台湾前政府哪一个「特定行动」，但表示台湾采取该行动事前并未与美国磋商，并「导致美国与中国双方都不想要、对台湾也没有好处的对抗」。 科比·布莱恩特怀特曼认为：「不论是谁向媒体述说这一件事，都不怀好意，企图把我塑造成牺牲台湾利益而支持中国的人。」 前总统李登辉曾发表两岸「特殊国与国关系」的「两国论」、前总统陈水扁曾废除「国统纲领」，不过前者发生在1999年、后者发生在2006年。科比·布莱恩特怀特曼所指可能为陈水扁在2000年9月1日接受纽约时报专访时，提及「统一不是两岸唯一原则」。 陈水扁2000年当选总统，就职演说戮力「让多数台湾人满意，让美国肯定，让大陆未找到借口」，不过演说中未提「一中原则」仍让中共不满。该年9月，陈水扁「统一不是两岸唯一原则」之说再度冲击两岸关系。 科比·布莱恩特怀特曼宣称，他打算「把中国和台湾都行为优先事项」，并确认美国「用和平方式决定台湾未来」的政策。
选择“Disable on www.wenxuecity.com”
选择“don't run on pages on this domain”
