Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=6/4/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-233324
TITLE=CHINA / U-S (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=ROGER WILKISON
DATELINE=BEIJING
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
 INTRO:  WITH THREE WEEKS TO GO BEFORE PRESIDENT CLINTON MAKES 
HIS OFFICIAL VISIT TO CHINA, BEIJING IS APPLAUDING MR. CLINTON'S 
MOVE TO RENEW ITS  LOW-TARIFF TRADE STATUS WITH THE UNITED 
STATES.  BUT -- AS V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ROGER WILKISON REPORTS 
FROM BEIJING -- CHINA IS INCENSED WASHINGTON  HAS DECIDED TO SELL
ADVANCED MILITARY EQUIPMENT TO TAIWAN IN WHAT BEIJING SAYS IS A 
VIOLATION OF A SINO-AMERICAN AGREEMENT.
TEXT:  CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN ZHU BANGZAO HAILED MR. 
CLINTON'S DECISION TO RENEW BEIJING'S MOST-FAVORED-NATION STATUS.
THE ACTION GIVES CHINA BENEFITS ENJOYED BY MOST OF WASHINGTON'S 
OTHER TRADING PARTNERS.  SPEAKING THROUGH AN INTERPRETER, MR. ZHU
SAID THE MOVE IS IN THE INTEREST OF BOTH COUNTRIES.
        //INTERPRETER ACTUALITY//
 PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS MADE A WISE DECISION.  IT WILL FACILITATE 
BILATERAL  COOPERATION, EXCHANGES IN THE ECONOMIC AND TRADE FIELD
AND BRING ABOUT TANGIBLE BENEFITS TO THE TWO PEOPLES.
        //END ACTUALITY/
MR. CLINTON'S DECISION TO RENEW CHINA'S TRADE BENEFITS FACES 
TOUGH OPPOSITION IN THE U-S CONGRESS THIS YEAR.  LEGISLATORS ARE 
INVESTIGATING ALLEGATIONS CHINA ACQUIRED SENSITIVE U-S ROCKET 
TECHNOLOGY AND CHARGES MR. CLINTON'S 1996 CAMPAIGN RECEIVED 
CONTRIBUTIONS FROM CHINESE SOURCES.
BUT THE CHINESE SPOKESMAN REITERATED BEIJING'S REQUEST FOR 
PERMANENT MOST-FAVORED-NATION STATUS -- ARGUING THE ANNUAL REVIEW
IS NOT CONDUCIVE TO STABLE TRADE RELATIONS.
MR. ZHU ALSO EXPRESSED CHINA'S STRONG OPPOSITION TO WASHINGTON'S 
DECISION TO SELL TAIWAN NAVIGATION AND TARGETING DEVICES FOR ITS 
U-S / BUILT F-16 FIGHTERS.  THE SPOKESMAN SAYS SUCH A MOVE 
VIOLATES A 1982 ACCORD BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND CHINA, UNDER
WHICH WASHINGTON PROMISED TO GRADUALLY REDUCE ITS ARMS SALES TO 
THE ISLAND.
       //INTERPRETER ACTUALITY//
 WE DEMAND THAT THE U-S SIDE HONOR ITS COMMITMENT ON THE ISSUE OF
ARMS  SALES TO TAIWAN AND NOT TO SELL THE ADVANCED NAVIGATION 
SYSTEM AND  SPARE PARTS OF THE F-16 FIGHTER TO TAIWAN SO AS TO 
SAVE DAMAGE TO THE CURRENT MOMENTUM OF IMPROVING SINO / U-S 
RELATIONS.
         //END ACTUALITY//
MR. ZHU ALSO SCOFFED AT OPPOSITION IN THE U-S CONGRESS TO 
PRESIDENT CLINTON'S SCHEDULED WELCOMING CEREMONY ON JUNE 26TH IN 
FRONT OF BEIJING'S TIANANMEN SQUARE -- THE SITE OF THE CHINESE 
ARMY'S CRACKED DOWN ON PRO-DEMOCRACY DEMONSTRATORS, NINE YEARS 
AGO.
       //INTERPRETER ACTUALITY//
 WE HOPE THAT THE U-S CONGRESSMEN WILL CONFORM TO THE HISTORICAL 
TREND AND TAKE AN ACTIVE POSITION SO AS TO DO SOMETHING 
BENEFICIAL TO THE IMPROVEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT OF BILATERAL 
RELATIONS.
        //END ACT//
THE CHINESE SPOKESMAN SAYS CHINA WILL GIVE PRESIDENT CLINTON A 
WARM AND FRIENDLY WELCOME.  (SIGNED)
NEB / RW / GC / WD
04-Jun-98 6:36 AM EDT (1036 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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