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DATE=7/14/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-251738
TITLE=CHINA / U-S COMPENSATION (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=STEPHANIE HO
DATELINE=BEIJING
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:  
// EDS: THE DELEGATION IS SCHEDULED TO ARRIVE ROUGHLY AT ABOUT 
SEVEN-PM BEIJING TIME, SEVEN-AM WASHINGTON TIME //
INTRO:  A U-S DELEGATION IS ARRIVING IN BEIJING TO DISCUSS 
PAYMENTS FOR THE DAMAGE CAUSED BY NATO'S BOMBING OF THE CHINESE 
EMBASSY IN BELGRADE.  V-O-A'S STEPHANIE HO REPORTS FROM THE 
CHINESE CAPITAL.
TEXT:  THE INTER-AGENCY AMERICAN DELEGATION IS HEADED BY U-S 
STATE DEPARTMENT LEGAL ADVISER, DAVID ANDREWS.
AMERICAN OFFICIALS WILL DISCUSS COMPENSATION FOR THE LOSS OF LIFE
AND DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE NATO BOMBING STRIKE ON THE CHINESE 
EMBASSY.  THE U-S GROUP IS DUE TO LEAVE BEIJING SATURDAY.
NATO BOMBS HIT CHINA'S BELGRADE DIPLOMATIC COMPOUND ON MAY 
SEVENTH, KILLING THREE REPORTERS AND WOUNDING MORE THAN 20 
PEOPLE.  CHINA HAS DEMANDED COMPENSATION FOR THE RUINED EMBASSY, 
FOR THE FAMILIES OF THOSE KILLED AND FOR THE WOUNDED.
THE U-S GOVERNMENT HAS SENT ENVOYS TO CHINA TO EXPLAIN THE 
BOMBING WAS A MISTAKE CAUSED BY FAULTY INTELLIGENCE.  BEIJING 
REJECTS THE   EXPLANATION AS NOT CONVINCING  AND IS CALLING FOR A
MORE SATISFACTORY ANSWER.  
WHEN ASKED IF THE U-S DELEGATION WOULD OFFER A FOLLOW-UP 
EXPLANATION, CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESWOMAN ZHANG QIYUE 
SAID THE TALKS WOULD FOCUS ON COMPENSATION.
THE BOMBING OF THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN BELGRADE SPARKED  FOUR DAYS
OF SOMETIMES VIOLENT DEMONSTRATIONS AGAINST SEVERAL FOREIGN 
MISSIONS IN BEIJING, INCLUDING THE U-S EMBASSY.
A U-S SPOKESMAN SAID THE CHINESE WILL DISCUSS THE ISSUE OF DAMAGE
TO THE AMERICAN EMBASSY IN BEIJING, BUT ADDED,  THAT DOES NOT 
MEAN CHINA WILL PAY THE UNITED STATES ANY COMPENSATION.
THE NATO BOMBING HAS BEEN THE SOURCE OF FRICTION IN SINO-AMERICAN
RELATIONS.  BEIJING CUT OFF ON-GOING TALKS WITH WASHINGTON ON 
ARMS PROLIFERATION, MILITARY ISSUES AND HUMAN RIGHTS.
ANOTHER CASUALTY IS CHINA'S LONG-STALLED BID TO JOIN THE WORLD 
TRADE ORGANIZATION.  EARLIER THIS YEAR, WASHINGTON AND BEIJING 
ALMOST CLINCHED A DEAL ON CHINA'S W-T-O ENTRY, BUT NOW TALKS HAVE
BEEN DELAYED INDEFINITELY.  (SIGNED)
NEB/HO/JO/PLM
14-Jul-99 6:26 AM EDT (1026 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.