Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=7/14/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-235420
TITLE=CHINA/U-S (L-O)
BYLINE=ROGER WILKISON
DATELINE=BEIJING
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:  
INTRO:  CHINA HAS DENOUNCED A U-S SENATE RESOLUTION, REAFFIRMING 
SUPPORT FOR TAIWAN, AS INTERFERENCE IN CHINA'S INTERNAL AFFAIRS. 
CORRESPONDENT ROGER WILKISON REPORTS THE CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY
IS SUGGESTING THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION TAKE MEASURES TO PREVENT
CONGRESS FROM PASSING SUCH RESOLUTIONS.
TEXT:  THE U-S SENATE LAST FRIDAY UNANIMOUSLY PASSED A 
NON-BINDING RESOLUTION REITERATING ITS SUPPORT FOR TAIWAN.  THE 
MEASURE WAS DESIGNED TO ALLEVIATE TAIWANESE CONCERN OVER PUBLIC 
STATEMENTS BY PRESIDENT CLINTON OPPOSING THE ISLAND'S 
INDEPENDENCE.  IT ALSO URGED THE ADMINISTRATION TO SEEK BEIJING'S
RENUNCIATION OF THE USE OF FORCE AGAINST TAIWAN AND ASSERTED 
WASHINGTON'S EXPECTATION THE ISLAND'S FUTURE WILL BE DECIDED BY 
PEACEFUL MEANS.
CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN TANG GUOQIANG -- SPEAKING 
TUESDAY THROUGH AN INTERPRETER -- MADE CLEAR THE RESOLUTION DID 
NOT GO OVER WELL IN BEIJING.
                  /// INTERPRETER ACTUALITY ///
 WE ARE STRONGLY OPPOSED AND EXPRESS OUR DISSATISFACTION TOWARD 
THIS.
                      /// END ACTUALITY ///
MR. TANG ACCUSED U-S LEGISLATORS OF TRYING TO OBSTRUCT THE 
DEVELOPMENT OF CHINA/U-S RELATIONS.  HE REPEATED BEIJING'S 
POSITION THAT TAIWAN IS PART OF CHINA AND IT HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED 
AS SUCH BY SUCCESSIVE U-S ADMINISTRATIONS.  
BUT THE CHINESE SPOKESMAN DID NOT STOP THERE.  HE WENT ON TO 
SUGGEST THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION DO SOMETHING TO PREVENT U-S 
LAWMAKERS FROM INTERFERING IN WHAT HE SAID ARE CHINA'S INTERNAL 
AFFAIRS.
                  /// INTERPRETER ACTUALITY ///
 WE HOPE THAT THE U-S GOVERNMENT WILL ADOPT EFFECTIVE MEASURES TO
ELIMINATE INTERFERENCE AND PREVENT THE CONGRESS FROM PASSING 
ANTI-CHINA RESOLUTIONS SO THAT SINO/U-S RELATIONS WILL NOT BE 
HARMED.
                      /// END ACTUALITY ///
WHILE THE U-S CONSTITUTION SPELLS OUT  SEPARATION OF POWERS AMONG
THE LEGISLATIVE, EXECUTIVE AND JUDICIAL BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT, 
THE CHINESE SPOKESMAN  INSISTED THE DOCUMENT ALLOWS THE EXECUTIVE
BRANCH TO HAVE ITS OWN WAY IN THESE MATTERS.
                  /// INTERPRETER ACTUALITY ///
 IN ACCORDANCE WITH RELEVANT REGULATIONS OF THE U-S CONSTITUTION,
THE U-S GOVERNMENT IS ENTITLED TO ADOPT EFFECTIVE MEASURES TO 
PREVENT THE CONGRESS FROM PASSING SUCH RESOLUTIONS.
                      /// END ACTUALITY ///
ASKED WHAT THOSE RELEVANT REGULATIONS ARE, MR. TANG WOULD NOT 
SAY.  BUT HE REITERATED HIS BELIEF THE ADMINISTRATION CAN TAKE 
ACTION TO PREVENT CONGRESSIONAL RESOLUTIONS HE SAYS UNDERMINE 
CHINA/U-S RELATIONS.  
THE SPOKESMAN ALSO TOOK A SWIPE AT THE ADMINISTRATION FOR URGING 
THE RELEASE OF FOUR CHINESE DISSIDENTS WHO WERE DETAINED LAST 
FRIDAY IN ZHEJIANG PROVINCE FOR TRYING TO REGISTER A POLITICAL 
PARTY.  MR. TANG SAYS MOST DISSIDENTS ARE CRIMINALS ANYWAY, AND 
THAT NO ONE IS ENTITLED TO INTERFERE IN THE WAY CHINA HANDLES 
SUCH CASES.   (SIGNED)
NEB/RW/FC/RAE 
14-Jul-98 7:50 AM EDT (1150 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.