DATE=5/27/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-249857
TITLE=CHINA / U-S RELATIONS (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=CHRIS SIMKINS
DATELINE=HONG KONG
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: RELATIONS BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND CHINA HAVE SHARPLY
DETERIORATED SINCE NATO'S MISTAKEN BOMBING OF THE CHINESE EMBASSY
IN BELGRADE AND THE ALLEGATIONS FROM WASHINGTON ABOUT CHINESE
SPYING. BUT DESPITE INCREASED TENSIONS, A LEADING PROPONENT OF
SINO-AMERICAN PARTNERSHIP IS OPTIMISTIC ABOUT REBUILDING TIES
BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES. VOA HONG KONG CORRESPONDENT CHRIS SIMKINS
HAS MORE ON THE STORY.
TEXT: JOHN HOLDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL COMMITTEE ON U-S
CHINA RELATIONS, SAYS MUCH WORK LIES AHEAD, IN ORDER TO REPAIR
STRAINED TIES BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES. IN A SPEECH TO THE
AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN HONG KONG, MR. HOLDEN SAID
REBUILDING THE RELATIONSHIP MUST START WITH THE UNITED STATES
RESPONSE TO CHINESE ANGER AT THE EMBASSY BOMBING
/// HOLDEN ACT ///
FIRST OF ALL THE UNITED STATES SHOULD COMPENSATE CHINA
FOR THE BOMBING. CHINA SHOULD EXPECT AND DEMAND A
THOROUGH INVESTIGATION, BUT REALIZE THAT THERE IS NO
WAY TO PROVE THAT A CONSPIRACY OF SOME SORT DID NOT
HAPPEN. CHINA MUST EXAMINE CAREFULLY WHETHER AN ATTACK
ON THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN BELGRADE SERVED AMERICAN
INTEREST OR NOT. IF IT DID NOT, WHICH I THINK SHOULD BE
OBVIOUS, THEN CHINA SHOULD APPROVE THE RESULTS OF THE
INVESTIGATION , ACCEPT AMERICA'S APOLOGIES AND MOVE
FORWARD.
/// END ACT ///
MR. HOLDEN SAYS IF CHINA IS UNWILLING TO DO SO, IT WILL ONLY
FURTHER WEAKEN WHATEVER FRAGILE TRUST REMAINS ON BOTH SIDES. BUT
HE SAYS OTHER THINGS MUST BE DONE TO MEND DAMAGED SINO AMERICAN
RELATIONS.
/// HOLDEN ACT ///
TODAY, THE MOST URGENT NEED IS FOR DAMAGE CONTROL. WHEN
THIS IS FINISHED, BOTH COUNTRIES SHOULD INVENTORY THEIR
SHARED INTERESTS, IDENTIFY WHERE THEIR INTERESTS
DIVERGE, TAKE NOTE OF THE CONSTRAINTS, WORK HARD TO
COMMUNICATE AND REBUILD TRUST BY WORKING TOGETHER AND
LISTENING TO ONE ANOTHER.
/// END ACT ///
MR. HOLDEN SAYS IF CHINA AND THE UNITED STATES FAIL IN MEETING
THE CHALLENGES OF REBUILDING A COOPERATIVE RELATIONSHIP, THE
POSSIBILITY EXISTS OF AN ARMS RACE IN ASIA AND DIMINISHED
SECURITY. (SIGNED)
NEB/CS/FC/KL
27-May-99 6:49 AM EDT (1049 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
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