"The Bush administration, in its first broad response to vows by Taiwan's recently reelected president to craft a constitution, warned Taiwan yesterday that unilateral moves toward independence could prompt a Chinese military response "that could destroy much of what Taiwan has built and crush its hopes for the future."

So much for promoting capitalism, democracy, freedom. No warning to China - which isn't particularly capitalistic, democratic, or free.

Can we put that one to bed?"

What are we putting to bed? This is consistent with US foreign policy.

Taiwan declaring it's independence would the same as it declaring war against mainland China. We are against China using miltary force against Taiwan, and we are against Taiwan provoking China to use miltary force.
We will protect Taiwan from an unprovoked Chinese attack, but by Taiwan "moving towards independence" this muddies the water. It's not in our national interest to expend blood and treasure in an attempt to separate Taiwan from China. [It's not in our national interest to separate Taiwan from China *even* if it doesn't cost us any blood and treasure.] US policy should be that the US will NOT recognize Taiwan as independent sovereign state or that China would gain anything by a miltary attack of Taiwan. Probably the only way that Taiwan could become independent [as far as the US is concerned] is for China to attack Taiwan- only by the Chinese violating our agreement thereby forcing us to expend blood and treasure will we consider Taiwan independence as an option.