DATE=3/7/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-246343
TITLE=CHINA / U-S (L) CQ
BYLINE=ROGER WILKISON
DATELINE=BEIJING
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: CHINA IS DISMISSING ALLEGATIONS IT STOLE SECRET NUCLEAR
TECHNOLOGY FROM THE UNITED STATES AS GROUNDLESS AND
IRRESPONSIBLE. FOREIGN MINISTER TANG JIAXUAN BLAMES SUCH CHARGES
ON OPPONENTS OF U-S HIGH-TECHNOLOGY EXPORTS TO BEIJING. ROGER
WILKISON REPORTS CHINA IS ALSO WARNING THE UNITED STATES AND
TAIWAN BEIJING WILL TAKE STRONG ACTION, IF THE ISLAND IS INCLUDED
UNDER A U-S / LED REGIONAL MISSILE DEFENSE SYSTEM.
TEXT: AT A NEWS CONFERENCE (SUNDAY) IN BEIJING'S GREAT HALL OF
THE PEOPLE, MR. TANG WAS ASKED ABOUT A "NEW YORK TIMES" REPORT
CHINA USED STOLEN U-S SECRETS TO PRODUCE MINIATURE NUCLEAR
WARHEADS. SPEAKING THROUGH AN INTERPRETER, HE SAID THE REPORT IS
BASELESS.
/// INTERPRETER ACTUALITY ///
I THINK THE REPORT BY "THE NEW YORK TIMES" IS
IRRESPONSIBLE AND IS ALSO UNFOUNDED...THERE ARE ALWAYS
SOME PEOPLE WHO TRY TO OBSTRUCT...THE NORMAL U-S EXPORT
OF HIGH TECHNOLOGY PRODUCTS TO CHINA. SUCH PRACTICE, IN
MY VIEW, WOULD NOT SERVE THE NATIONAL INTEREST OF THE
UNITED STATES.
/// END ACTUALITY ///
U-S OFFICIALS SAY THEY ARE INVESTIGATING REPORTS OF CHINESE
ESPIONAGE IN THE U-S NUCLEAR WEAPONS PROGRAM.
MR. TANG ALSO RESTATED CHINA'S OPPOSITION TO A U-S / SPONSORED
MISSILE-DEFENSE SYSTEM IN EAST ASIA. THE SO-CALLED THEATER
MISSILE DEFENSE -- OR T-M-D -- PLAN IS BEING STUDIED JOINTLY BY
THE UNITED STATES AND JAPAN. BUT THERE HAS BEEN NO DECISION TO
DEPLOY IT. MR. TANG CALLS THE IDEA A RELIC OF COLD WAR-THINKING
AND A THREAT TO REGIONAL STABILITY. HE SAYS CHINA IS ESPECIALLY
OPPOSED TO THE PARTICIPATION OF TAIWAN, WHICH BEIJING REGARDS AS
A REBEL PROVINCE.
/// INTERPRETER ACTUALITY ///
IF SOME PEOPLE INTEND TO INCLUDE TAIWAN INTO THE T-M-D,
THEN THAT WOULD AMOUNT TO AN ENCROACHMENT ON CHINA'S
SOVEREIGNTY AND TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY AND ALSO WOULD
(OBSTRUCT) THE GREAT CAUSE OF PEACEFUL REUNIFICATION OF
THE MOTHERLAND...IF ONE DAY THERE SHOULD BE SUCH A
SITUATION, THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT AND PEOPLE WOULD, OF
COURSE, MAKE THE DUE AND THE STRONG REACTION TO THAT.
/// END ACTUALITY ///
CHINA HAS NEVER RULED OUT THE USE OF FORCE TO RECAPTURE TAIWAN.
MR. TANG ACCUSES TAIWAN'S LEADERS OF TRYING TO INSINUATE THEIR
WAY INTO THE T-M-D PROGRAM.
/// INTERPRETER ACTUALITY ///
THEY ARE TRYING TO RELY ON FOREIGNERS SO AS TO PROTECT
THEMSELVES. AND, I THINK THEIR TRUE PURPOSE IS TO DELAY
THE REUNIFICATION OF THE COUNTRY AND TO CONTINUE TO
PERPETUATE THE STATE OF DIVISION OF THE MOTHERLAND.
/// END ACTUALITY ///
IN ANOTHER MATTER, THE CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTER SAYS ANY ATTEMPT
TO PASS A RESOLUTION CONDEMNING BEIJING AT THIS YEAR'S UNITED
NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION MEETING IS DOOMED TO FAILURE.
/// INTERPRETER ACTUALITY ///
IF SOMEBODY ATTEMPTS TO TABLE (PUT UP FOR CONSIDERATION)
AN ANTI-CHINA DRAFT RESOLUTION AGAIN THIS YEAR IN
GENEVA, THEN I THINK THE OUTCOME WILL NOT BE DIFFERENT
FROM THE PREVIOUS SEVEN TIMES.
/// END ACTUALITY ///
// REST OPTIONAL //
THERE HAS BEEN STRONG PRESSURE FROM THE U-S CONGRESS ON THE
CLINTON ADMINISTRATION TO SPONSOR SUCH A RESOLUTION, IN VIEW OF A
CRACKDOWN BY BEIJING ON DISSIDENTS THAT BEGAN LATE LAST YEAR.
MR. TANG SAYS CHINA IS WILLING TO IRON OUT ITS DIFFERENCES ON
TRADE WITH THE UNITED STATES IN ORDER TO SECURE BEIJING'S ENTRY
THIS YEAR INTO THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION. BUT HE SAYS CHINA'S
MAJOR TRADING PARTNERS HAVE MADE WHAT HE CALLS
EXCESSIVELY-EXORBITANT DEMANDS ON BEIJING TO OPEN ITS MARKETS.
(SIGNED)
NEB / WD / WD/RAE
07-Mar-99 10:20 AM EST (1520 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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