Under the policy of strategic ambiguity that has been followed by the last four American presidents, Washington could take a judicious approach in such a situation.

While some Republicans still favor what the policy makers call "strategic ambiguity," a swelling chorus of China critics are pushing for a more explicit commitment.

House Republicans led by Representative Christopher Cox, however, said that strategic ambiguity "virtually invites conflict."

Kerry has been talking for years, and yet such is the thicket of his verbiage that he has achieved almost complete strategic ambiguity.

But so is your reputation for strategic ambiguity, mon cher.

It is well accepted that the world is in a period of strategic ambiguity.

The bald assurance was at odds with Washington's longstanding position of leaving its military response somewhat unclear, a policy known as strategic ambiguity.

Properly used, strategic ambiguity can be an important tool of foreign policy.

That response, a senior Clinton aide recalled, was prompted by a concern that the policy of strategic ambiguity was a bit too ambiguous.

The period was punctuated by equivocal acts, strategic ambiguity and individual human beings damned by choices, with often tragic consequences.