DATE=3/15/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-246634
TITLE=CHINA/U-S (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=STEPHANIE HO
DATELINE=BEIJING
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: CHINA'S PREMIER SAYS, WHAT HE CALLS -- AN ANTI-CHINA WAVE
-- IN THE UNITED STATES HAS CAUSED CONCERN AMONG BEIJING'S
LEADERSHIP. BUT, AS CORRESPONDENT STEPHANIE HO REPORTS, HE SAYS
HE PLANS TO GO AHEAD WITH HIS UPCOMING TRIP TO THE UNITED STATES
-- DESPITE A STRAINED ATMOSPHERE.
TEXT: CHINESE PREMIER ZHU RONGJI TOLD REPORTERS THE MOMENTUM OF
SINO-AMERICAN RELATIONS USED TO BE GOOD -- UNTIL THE LATEST
ACCUSATIONS CHINA STOLE U-S NUCLEAR MISSILE TECHNOLOGY.
AS AN EXAMPLE OF ANTI-CHINA SENTIMENT MR. ZHU POINTED TO A RECENT
ARTICLE IN THE U-S PUBLICATION "BUSINESS WEEK", THAT PREDICTED
HUGE CALAMITIES IN CHINA. HE SAYS HE WAS PERSONALLY SLIGHTED.
/// ZHU AND INTERPRETER ACT (CHINESE) ///
I HAVE BEEN A VICTIM, TOO, BECAUSE ON THE COVER OF THAT
MAGAZINE, MY PHOTO, MY PICTURE, MAKES ME LOOK LIKE A DEAD MAN.
/// END ACT ///
HE SAYS HIS TRIP TO THE UNITED STATES NEXT MONTH WILL NOT BE AS
DIFFICULT AS WALKING INTO A MINEFIELD, BUT HE ACKNOWLEDGED IT
WILL NOT BE AN EASY JOB.
/// ZHU AND INTERPRETER ACT (CHINESE) ///
I WILL GO ANYWAY, BECAUSE AS YOU HAVE ANGER OR YOU HAVE
COMPLAINTS, THEN I MUST GO THERE TO LET YOU VENT YOUR ANGER, VENT
YOUR COMPLAINTS.
/// END ACT ///
THE CHINESE PREMIER SAID HE HOPES TO RESUME BUILDING A STRATEGIC
PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN BEIJING AND WASHINGTON.
ANOTHER TOPIC THAT IS LIKELY TO CAUSE FRICTION FOR MR. ZHU IN THE
UNITED STATES IS HUMAN RIGHTS. MR. ZHU ADDRESSED THE ISSUE BY
URGING PATIENCE, SAYING CHINA'S LEGAL SYSTEM IS STILL CHANGING TO
BETTER PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF CHINESE CITIZENS.
THE CHINESE PREMIER HAD STRONG CRITICISM FOR U-S-JAPANESE PLANS
TO SET UP A THEATER MISSILE DEFENSE SYSTEM, THE T-M-D, IN ASIA.
/// ZHU AND INTERPRETER ACT (CHINESE) ///
WE ARE OPPOSED TO T-M-D, AND WE ARE PARTICULARLY AND FIRMLY
OPPOSED TO INCLUDING TAIWAN INTO T-M-D.
/// END ACT ///
HE ALSO CRITICIZED REPORTS SAYING CHINA HAS INCREASED THE NUMBER
OF MISSILES AIMED AT TAIWAN FROM SEVERAL-DOZEN TO 600. BEIJING
REGARDS THE ISLAND AS A RENEGADE PROVINCE AND HAS VOWED TO USE
FORCE TO TAKE IT BACK.
/// ZHU AND INTERPRETER ACT (CHINESE) ///
WE HOPE TO HAVE A PEACEFUL REUNIFICATION OF THE MOTHERLAND.
HOWEVER, WE CANNOT DECLARE THAT WE RENOUNCE THE USE OF FORCE IN
THIS REGARD BECAUSE OTHERWISE, TAIWAN WOULD BE IN A STATE OF
PERPETUAL SEPARATION FROM THE MOTHERLAND.
/// END ACT ///
THE CHINESE PREMIER TOOK A SWIPE AT ANOTHER JUSTIFICATION FOR
T-M-D -- A MILITARY THREAT FROM NORTH KOREA. HE SAID BEIJING
CANNOT EXERT ANY INFLUENCE ON PYONGYANG BECAUSE NORTH KOREA IS AN
INDEPENDENT COUNTRY.
MR. ZHU SAID HE FELT THE UNITED STATES IS OVERESTIMATING THE
KOREAN THREAT. (SIGNED)
NEB/HO/RAE
15-Mar-99 9:46 AM EST (1446 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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