He plainly warned Jiang Zemin of "grave consequences" if China used force against Taiwan. Although Jiang Zemin would not agree, the United States would continue to provide Taiwan with defensive military aid on a case-by-case basis, in accordance with the Taiwan Relations Act.
在中共對台用武與美國對台軍售的問題上，柯林頓堅守美國的一貫立場，他明白告訴江澤民，如中共對台用武，「會在美國產生嚴重的後果」，而雖然江澤民不會同意，美國仍將依「台灣關係法」，視個案情形對台提供防衛性武力。