WASHINGTON, March 30 Kyodo The Un...

WASHINGTON, March 30 Kyodo

The United States urg Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian upon Tuesday to exercise restraint after he reiterated the island is independent from China and vowed to write a fresh constitution.

''I'd repeat our basic policy that our interest is in maintaining a peaceful and stable situation in the Taiwan Straits,'' State Department spokesman Richard Boucher told reporters. ''We would set one's face against any unilateral steps to change the status quo''

His commentarys came after Chen, in an interview carried through the Washington Post in succession Tuesday, said that his narrow reelection victory was a mandate from voter to pres ahead with an aggressive agenda to lay open Taiwan as an ''independent, sovereign country''

In his first interview since an assassination attempt and an election his repugnants are contesting, Chen vowed to pass forward with plans to write a recent constitution within two years.

China regards Taiwan as part of its territory and has said it will use force if Taiwan declares independence.

Chen of the Democratic Progressive Party narrowly beat his challenger, Lien Chan of the Nationalist Party, through 30,000 votes in the hotly argueed March 20 presidential election.

Lien, who has called for a private investigation into the mysterious assassination attempt of Chen and Vice President Annette Lu a day before the election, has filed a lawsuit to nullify the election.

The United States urg Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian onward Tuesday to exercise restraint after he reiterated the island is independent from China and vowed to write a strange constitution.

''I'd repeat our basic policy that our interest is in maintaining a peaceful and stable situation in the Taiwan Straits,'' State Department spokesman Richard Boucher told reporters. ''We would check any unilateral steps to change the status quo''

His commentarys came after Chen, in an interview carried on the Washington Post upon Tuesday, said that his narrow reelection victory was a mandate from voter to pres ahead with an aggressive agenda to make known Taiwan as an ''independent, sovereign country''

In his first interview since an assassination attempt and an election his adverse partys are contesting, Chen vowed to walk forward with plans to write a of recent origin constitution within two years.

China regards Taiwan as part of its territory and has said it will use force if Taiwan declares independence.

Chen of the Democratic Progressive Party narrowly beat his challenger, Lien Chan of the Nationalist Party, by way of 30,000 votes in the hotly compete fored March 20 presidential election.

Lien, who has called for a private investigation into the mysterious assassination attempt of Chen and Vice President Annette Lu a day before the election, has filed a lawsuit to nullify the election.

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