US would accept referendum and a new Taiwan constitution, senior official

[dArKeR]

As China ratchets up its rhetoric over President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) determination to write a new constitution for Taiwan, a senior US official has said that Washington would accept the new document as long as it does not extend to decisions regarding Taiwan's independence.

"We understand their interest in pursuing a referendum toward a new constitution," Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and the Pacific, Randall Schriver, told the Washington press corps on Thursday.

At the same time, Washington has been clear that it does not support Taiwan's independence.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2003/11/22/2003076815