DATE=7/15/99 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-251784 TITLE=TAIWAN / CHINA (L-ONLY) BYLINE=KENDALL BUHL DATELINE=TAIPEI CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: TAIWAN IS MOVING TO ASSURE THE UNITED STATES THAT CONTROVERSIAL REMARKS BY ITS PRESIDENT OVER THE WEEKEND DO NOT CONSTITUTE A CHANGE IN ITS POLICY TOWARDS CHINA. KENDALL BUHL REPORTS FROM TAIPEI THAT THE TAIWAN GOVERNMENT IS CONCERNED ABOUT WASHINGTON'S REACTION TO THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS. TEXT: TAIWAN OFFICIALS HAD HOPED THAT BY INSISTING BEIJING DEAL WITH TAIPEI AS AN EQUAL AND NOT AS A PART OF CHINA -- THEY COULD ELIMINATE THE DILEMMA THE "ONE CHINA" PHILOSOPHY HAD CAUSED FOR POTENTIAL DIPLOMATIC ALLIES, AND THUS EASE TAIPEI'S DIPLOMATIC ISOLATION. BUT PRESIDENT LEE TENG-HUI'S SURPRISE ANNOUNCEMENT SATURDAY THAT HE WILL INSIST ON STATE-TO-STATE RELATIONS HAS ONLY FURTHER ISOLATED THE ISLAND FROM ITS MOST INFLUENTIAL NON-OFFICIAL ALLY: THE UNITED STATES. THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION WAS QUICK TO REAFFIRM ITS COMMITMENT TO "ONE CHINA," THE CORNERSTONE OF TAIWAN-CHINA RELATIONS FOR THE PAST 50 YEARS. WHAT HAS RATTLED OFFICIALS HERE IS THE RESPONSE WEDNESDAY FROM EVEN TAIWAN'S STAUNCHEST SUPPORTERS IN WASHINGTON -- INCLUDING SENATOR ROBERT TORRICELLI. HE ACCUSED TAIWAN OF UNNECESSARILY RAISING TENSIONS ACROSS THE TAIWAN STRAIT AND SUGGESTED PERHAPS THE UNITED STATES SHOULD START RETHINKING ITS COMMITMENT TO SELL ARMS TO TAIWAN. POLITICAL ANALYSTS SAY THAT VEILED THREAT HAS TAIPEI WONDERING IF IT CAN COUNT ON U-S SUPPORT IF CHINA BEGINS EARNEST SABER-RATTLING. BEIJING REFUSES TO GIVE UP THE OPTION OF ONE DAY USING FORCE TO RETAKE THE ISLAND, WHICH IT HAS CONSIDERED A RENEGADE PROVINCE SINCE THE COMMUNISTS WON THEIR CIVIL WAR WITH THE NATIONALISTS IN 1949. IN 1996, DURING TAIWAN'S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS, CHINA HELD MASSIVE, LIVE-FIRE EXERCISES OFF THE COAST OF TAIWAN. THE UNITED STATES RESPONDED BY SENDING TWO AIRCRAFT CARRIERS TO THE REGION. KEEPING IN MIND THE IMPORTANCE OF U-S SUPPORT, PRESIDENT LEE WEDNESDAY PROMISED WASHINGTON'S DE FACTO AMBASSADOR IN TAIWAN -- AMERICAN INSTITUTE IN TAIWAN CHIEF DARYL JOHNSON, -- THAT TAIPEI'S POLICY TOWARDS ITS RIVAL HAS NOT ESSENTIALLY CHANGED. AND ALL GOVERNMENT MINISTRIES HAVE BEEN ORDERED TO MAKE THE SAME ASSURANCES TO THE PUBLIC. THE LOCAL STOCK MARKET, THE KEY BAROMETER OF PUBLIC CONFIDENCE, PLUMMETED NEARLY SEVEN PERCENT ON TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY. (SIGNED) NEB/KB/GC/JO 15-Jul-99 12:29 AM EDT (0429 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .
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