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DATE=7/20/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-251977
TITLE=CLINTON / CHINA (L)
BYLINE=DEBORAH TATE
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:   PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS WARNED CHINA NOT TO STEP UP 
TENSIONS WITH TAIWAN.  AT THE SAME TIME, HE REITERATED U-S 
SUPPORT FOR A ONE-CHINA POLICY.  CORRESPONDENT DEBORAH TATE 
REPORTS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE.
TEXT:   CONCERNED THAT A NEW CRISIS IS BREWING IN THE TAIWAN 
STRAITS AFTER CHINA REFUSED TO RULE OUT FORCE TO CRUSH ANY 
ATTEMPT BY TAIWAN AT INDEPENDENCE, MR. CLINTON IS URGING 
CONTINUED CROSS-STRAIT DIALOGUE.
MR. CLINTON BRIEFED REPORTERS TUESDAY ON HIS PHONECALL TO CHINESE
PRESIDENT JIANG ZEMIN SUNDAY, WHEN HE REITERATED U-S SUPPORT FOR 
A ONE-CHINA POLICY AS WELL AS DIALOGUE BETWEEN CHINA AND TAIWAN.
                     // CLINTON ACTUALITY //
         I BELIEVE THAT THE ACTION OF THE UNITED STATES IN 
         REAFFIRMING OUR ONE-CHINA POLICY AND ENCOURAGING TAIWAN 
         TO SUPPORT THAT AND THE FRAMEWORK WITHIN WHICH DIALOGUE 
         HAS OCCURRED WILL BE HELPFUL IN EASING SOME OF THE 
         TENSIONS.  THAT WAS THE CONTEXT IN WHICH OUR 
         CONVERSATION OCCURRED.  I THOUGHT IT WAS A VERY POSITIVE
         CONVERSATION.
                          // END ACT //
BEIJING - WHICH CONSIDERS TAIWAN A RENEGADE PROVINCE - WAS 
ANGERED LAST WEEK WHEN TAIWAN'S PRESIDENT LEE TENG-HUI (LEE DUNG 
WHAY) CALLED FOR STATE-TO-STATE RELATIONS WITH CHINA.  
WHEN ASKED IF THE UNITED STATES WOULD DEFEND TAIWAN MILITARILY IN
A CONFLICT WITH CHINA, MR. CLINTON DID NOT RESPOND DIRECTLY, 
SAYING ONLY 'CHINA KNOWS VERY WELL WHAT OUR POLICY IS AND WE KNOW
QUITE WELL WHAT THEIR POLICY IS.'
UNDER THE TAIWAN RELATIONS ACT, THE UNITED STATES CONDUCTS 
FRIENDLY BUT UNOFFICIAL RELATIONS WITH THE SELF-GOVERNING ISLAND.
U-S OFFICIALS SAY THE LAW COMMITS THE UNITED STATES TO WORKING  
WITH TAIWAN TO PROVIDE FOR ITS SELF-DEFENSE.  THAT INCLUDES 
CONTINUED ARMS SALES TAIWAN.
AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT, SECRETARY MADELEINE ALBRIGHT ANNOUNCED 
THAT THE UNITED STATES IS SENDING TWO ENVOYS TO CHINA AND TAIWAN 
WEDNESDAY TO TRY TO EASE TENSIONS.
ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE FOR EAST ASIA, STANLEY ROTH LEAVES 
FOR BEIJING, WHERE HE WILL PREPARE FOR MS. ALBRIGHT'S UPCOMING 
MEETING IN SINGAPORE WITH HER CHINESE COUNTERPART (TANG JIAXUAN).
AND THE HEAD OF THE ORGANIZATION THAT MANAGES PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE 
RELATIONS WITH TAIWAN, RICHARD BUSH, TRAVELS TO TAIPEI.  MR. BUSH
IS CHAIRMAN OF THE UNOFFICIAL AMERICAN INSTITUTE IN TAIWAN.  
(SIGNED)
NEB/DT/TVM/PT
20-Jul-99 4:46 PM EDT (2046 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.