DATE=1/25/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CHINA - EAST TIMOR (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-258407
BYLINE=ROGER WILKISON
DATELINE=BEIJING
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: East Timor independence leader Xanana Gusmao
is in China on a four-day visit during which the issue
of establishing diplomatic relations has been foremost
on the agenda. VOA correspondent Roger Wilkison
reports that, by welcoming Mr. Gusmao, Beijing has
pre-empted any effort by Taiwan to build diplomatic
ties to the soon-to-be independent nation.
TEXT: Mr. Gusmao has already met with Chinese Vice-
President Hu Jintao and Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhu Bangzao -- speaking
through an interpreter at a news briefing Tuesday --
says Mr. Tang and the East Timorese leader reached a
consensus on developing what he called friendly
bilateral relations and cooperation in the future.
/////INTERPRETER ACTUALITY/////
The Chinese side is willing to send people to
participate in the nation-building of East Timor. It
is willing to become a good neighbor, a good partner
of East Timor.
/////END ACTUALITY/////
Mr. Zhu says China has decided to grant East Timor six
million dollars for reconstruction. Earlier this
month, China sent 15 policemen to the territory, which
voted for independence from Indonesia last year and is
now administered by a transitional United Nations
authority.
Although China is usually reluctant to side with
separatist movements anywhere, Mr. Zhu says Beijing
acknowledges that east Timor's case is different.
/////INTERPRETER ACTUALITY/////
The question of East Timor is left over from history.
The Chinese government respects the choice made by the
East Timor people.
/////END ACTUALITY/////
A Taiwanese reporter at Mr. Zhu's briefing asked why
China is willing to accept the choice of East Timorese
but fiercely opposes any referendum in Taiwan.
Mr. Zhu says there is no way Taiwan can be separated
from the rest of China.
/////INTERPRETER ACTUALITY/////
The government of the People's Republic of China is
the sole legitimate government of the whole of China,
and there is only one China in the world. This is a
fact acknowledged by most people in the world. The
attempt made by certain people in Taiwan to separate
Taiwan from China by using a so-called referendum will
not succeed.
/////END ACTUALITY/////
China regards Taiwan as a rebel province that has to
be brought under Beijing's sway by any means,
including force. It has successfully sought to
isolate Taiwan diplomatically. The island today has
only 29 diplomatic partners, mostly small states in
Africa, central America and the Pacific.
East Timor has decided to recognize Beijing despite
overtures from Taiwan. A European diplomat who has
been in contact with the East Timorese delegation
quotes Mr. Gusmao's top diplomat -- Jose Ramos Horta -
- as saying that East Timor will follow most other
countries and support the one-China principle. But he
also quotes Mr. Ramos Horta as saying East Timor wants
to foster close economic ties with Taiwan.
Mr. Gusmao himself was quoted by a Taiwanese newspaper
on Monday as saying he wants East Timor to make
friends on both sides of the Taiwan Strait. (SIGNED)
NEB/ RW / FC
25-Jan-2000 06:29 AM EDT (25-Jan-2000 1129 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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