QUESTION: On Taiwan, there have been massive student demonstrations in Taiwan against the government’s handling of a trade pact with the Chinese mainland. Do you have any comment on that? And the student demonstrators have taken over the legislature. They tried to move into the Executive Yuan but were put out by riot police. MS. HARF: Mm-hmm. QUESTION: How do you see the government’s handling of the situation? Do you have any concerns? MS. HARF: Well, we certainly support Taiwan’s vibrant democracy, which allows for this kind of robust political dialogue on a range of issues. The agreement on cross-strait trade in services that I think you’re referencing is an issue for Taiwan to decide. We hope that the discussion can be conducted peacefully and civilly. We have welcomed steps taken by both sides on the Taiwan Strait that they’ve taken to reduce tensions and improve relations between Taipei and Beijing. We’d encourage them to continue this constructive dialogue. And again, the specific, I think, agreement you’re referring to is really an issue for them to decide. QUESTION: Are you offering any counsel to the – President Ma’s government as to what to do and what not to do in terms how – in terms of how to deal with the demonstrators? MS. HARF: Not to my knowledge. I’m happy to check.
Posted on: Tue, 25 Mar 2014 11:41:06 +0000