Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=5/9/98
TYPE=ANCHOR SCRIPT
NUMBER=2-231950
TITLE=U-S MILITARY / CHINA-TAIWAN
BYLINE=DAVID DYAR
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
UNVOICED
ANCHOR INTRO:  LAST MONTH, SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE U-S CONGRESS 
INTRODUCED A RESOLUTION WHICH WOULD CALL ON CHINA TO PUBLICLY 
RENOUNCE THE USE OF FORCE AGAINST TAIWAN.  SENIOR STATE 
DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL STANLEY ROTH HAS VOICED CONCERNS ABOUT THE 
IMPACT OF THAT RESOLUTION DURING COMMENTS AT A CONGRESSIONAL 
COMMITTEE HEARING (THIS MONTH).  
                       /// ROTH CUT 1 ///
         I THINK IT WOULD MAKE THE MOST SENSE FOR THE UNITED 
         STATES TO STAY OUT OF THIS PROCESS AND TO LET THE 
         PARTIES THEMSELVES WORK OUT THE PACE AND SCOPE OF WHAT 
         THEY ARE GOING TO DO TOGETHER, WORK OUT THEIR AGENDA.  
         BUT I THINK AT THIS POINT, WE DON'T NEED SOMETHING THAT 
         MIGHT ENDANGER THAT PROCESS. // OPT // I THINK, LET'S 
         ENCOURAGE THE CROSS STRAITS PROCESS BECAUSE THAT MOST 
         PROTECTS EVERYBODY'S INTERESTS. // END OPT // 
                         /// END CUT ///
ANCHOR BRIDGE:  MR. ROTH WAS ASKED AT THE HEARING IF THERE IS A 
POSSIBILITY THE RESOLUTION WOULD DAMAGE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR 
DIALOGUE AND RECONCILIATION BETWEEN BEIJING AND TAIWAN.
                       /// ROTH CUT 2 /// 
         A LOT WOULD DEPEND ON HOW THE CHINESE INTERPRET THE 
         RESOLUTION.  IF THEY SEE THIS AS A CRITICAL RESOLUTION, 
         SOMEHOW INTERFERING IN THEIR (INTERNAL) AFFAIRS, THIS 
         COULD HARDEN THEIR POSITIONS GOING INTO THE TALKS.
                         /// END CUT ///
ANCHOR CLOSE:  MR. ROTH IS THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE FOR 
EAST ASIA AND THE PACIFIC.  (END)
NEB/DWD/JO  
NEB/DWD/
09-May-98 3:37 PM EDT (1937 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.