During an interview last week in Beijing, US Secretary of State Colin Powell made some surprising remarks regarding the cross-strait relationship, saying that "Taiwan is not independent. It does not enjoy sovereignty as a nation," and that the two sides should move forward to a "peaceful reunification."
Powell's comments clearly deviated from the US policy of supporting "peaceful resolution," "opposing any unilateral change of the status quo by either side of the Taiwan Strait," and "doing
best to assist Taiwan in self defense." The deviation became the center of public concern.
President Chen Shui-bian (³¯¤ô«ó) immediately reiterated during three separate meetings with foreign guests that "the existence of Republic of China is a fact and Taiwan is definitely an independent and sovereign country, as well as a great country; it most certainly does not belong to the People's Republic of China and this is the status quo, as well as the fact." Chen also said that "whether or not other countries hold formal diplomatic relationships with Taiwan neither impacts nor changes the fact and reality that either the Republic of China or Taiwan is a sovereign and independent country."
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/edit/archives/2004/10/31/2003209113