DATE=6/25/99
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
NUMBER=5-43727
TITLE=CHINA / U-S RELATIONS
BYLINE=CHRIS SIMKINS
DATELINE=HONG KONG
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: STRAINED RELATIONS BETWEEN CHINA AND THE UNITED STATES
COULD HAVE SERIOUS REPERCUSSIONS IN THE INTERNATIONAL ARENA --
IN EVERYTHING FROM TRADE TO DECISION-MAKING IN THE U-N SECURITY
COUNCIL. EXPERTS ON ASIAN AFFAIRS SAY U-S / CHINA RELATIONS ARE
NOT LIKELY TO IMPROVED ANYTIME SOON. V-O-A HONG KONG
CORRESPONDENT CHRIS SIMKINS EXAMINES ISSUES STANDING IN THE WAY
OF REBUILDING SINO-AMERICAN TIES.
TEXT: IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS RELATIONS BETWEEN CHINA AND THE
UNITED STATES HAVE DETERIORATED SHARPLY FOR SEVERAL REASONS,
INCLUDING THE NATO BOMBING OF THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN BELGRADE,
U-S ACCUSATIONS THAT CHINA HAS BEEN STEALING ITS NUCLEAR SECRETS
AND CONTINUED DISPUTES OVER CHINA'S ENTRY INTO THE WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATION.
HARRY HARDING IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL COMMITTEE ON U-S
CHINA RELATIONS -- A PRIVATE WASHINGTON-BASED FOUNDATION. DURING
A RECENT VISIT TO HONG KONG, MR. HARDING SAID MUCH WORK LIES
AHEAD AND REBUILDING THE RELATIONSHIP MUST FIRST START WITH THE
UNITED STATES' FULLY SATISFYING CHINA'S DEMANDS REGARDING THE
BOMBING OF ITS EMBASSY IN YUGOSLAVIA.
/// HARDING ACT ///
UNTIL WE GET THE BOMBING QUESTION BEHIND US WE CANNOT
RESUME DISCUSSIONS ON W-T-O (WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION).
WE CANNOT RESUME HIGH-LEVEL MILITARY (COOPERATION) OR TO
A DEGREE POLITICAL DIALOGUE. WE CANNOT GET SHIP AND
AIRCRAFT VISITS RESTARTED HERE IN HONG KONG. SO THE
BOMBING IS BEING LINKED TO OTHER ISSUES. SO THE EFFECT
ON THE RELATIONSHIP IS QUITE WORRISOME TO ME.
/// END ACT ///
CHINA REMAINS UNCONVINCED BY U-S STATEMENTS THAT THE EMBASSY
BOMBING WAS ACCIDENTAL, CAUSED BY A SERIES OF INTELLIGENCE
FAILURES. BEIJING IS STILL DEMANDING MONETARY COMPENSATION, A
FULL INVESTIGATION AND PUNISHMENT FOR THOSE RESPONSIBLE.
MR. HARDING SAYS THE EMBASSY BOMBING HAS EXACERBATED OTHER
UNDERLYING STRUCTURAL PROBLEMS IN U-S / SINO RELATIONS. THEY
INCLUDE CHINA'S GROWING MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR TRADE SURPLUS WITH
THE UNITED STATES, HUMAN RIGHTS QUESTIONS, AND TAIWAN / U-S
RELATIONS.
CHINA ANALYST MARK PANTER, OF HONG KONG UNIVERSITY, BELIEVES
WASHINGTON POLITICS IS LARGELY TO BLAME FOR THESE FUNDAMENTAL
PROBLEMS. HE SAYS CONFLICTS BETWEEN THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION
-- AND ITS POLICY OF ENGAGING CHINA -- AND A SKEPTICAL CONGRESS
HAVE HINDERED THE FORMATION OF EFFECTIVE POLICIES BY THE UNITED
STATES TO DEAL WITH BEIJING.
/// PANTER ACT ///
IF WE (THE UNITED STATES) CAN GET OUR HOUSE IN ORDER SO
THAT WE SPEAK WITH A SINGLE VOICE SO THAT WE HASH OUT
ALL OF THE MANY TRADE OFFS -- AND THAT MEANS DEFERRING
CHINA'S W-T-O ENTRY FOR A YEAR -- THAT IS FINE WITH ME.
BECAUSE I THINK THAT IT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR AMERICA
THAT WE NOT GO ON WITH THIS HIGHLY SECRETIVE AND
UNPOPULAR POLICY. IT IS SIMPLY NOT VIABLE.
/// END ACT ///
SOME ANALYSTS ARE MORE POSITIVE, SUGGESTING A DESIRE BY BOTH
SIDES TO MAINTAIN CLOSE COMMERCIAL TIES WILL HELP ACCELERATE
BETTER U-S CHINA RELATIONS. BUT MR. HARDING AND PROFESSOR PANTER
DISAGREE. THEY SAY BUSINESS ALONE CANNOT BE THE SOLE MECHANISM
BY WHICH A COOPERATIVE RELATIONSHIP IS REBUILT. THEY SAY IT WILL
TAKE POLITICAL ACTION BY THE TWO GOVERNMENTS . (SIGNED)
NEB/CS/JO/KL
25-Jun-99 7:49 AM EDT (1149 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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