DATE=7/21/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-
TITLE=CLINTON/CHINA (L)
BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON IS URGING CHINA AND TAIWAN TO EXERCISE
RESTRAINT IN THEIR LATEST POLITICAL CONFRONTATION, SAYING A
RESORT TO FORCE SHOULD BE "UNTHINKABLE." V-O-A'S DAVID GOLLUST
REPORTS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE.
TEXT: IT WAS THE SECOND DAY IN A ROW THAT MR. CLINTON URGED
RESTRAINT IN THE DISPUTE, WHICH ERUPTED EARLIER IN THE MONTH
AFTER PRO-INDEPENDENCE COMMENTS BY TAIWAN'S PRESIDENT LEE
TENG-HUI.
MR. CLINTON TOLD REPORTERS AT HIS NEWS CONFERENCE HE HAD ORDERED
THE POSTPONEMENT OF A TAIWAN VISIT BY A PENTAGON DELEGATION TO
UNDERSCORE HIS DETERMINATION THAT NEITHER SIDE SHOULD CONTEMPLATE
THE USE OF FORCE:
/// FIRST CLINTON ACTUALITY ///
I DIDN'T THINK THIS WAS THE BEST TIME TO DO SOMETHING
WHICH MIGHT EXCITE EITHER ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER AND
IMPLY THAT A MILITARY SOLUTION IS AN ACCEPTABLE
ALTERNATIVE. IF YOU REALLY THINK ABOUT WHAT'S AT STAKE
HERE IT WOULD BE UNTHINKABLE.
/// END ACT ///
MR. CLINTON SPOKE BY TELEPHONE EARLIER THIS WEEK WITH CHINESE
PRESIDENT JIANG ZEMIN TO REAFFIRM SUPPORT FOR THE "ONE-CHINA"
POLICY THAT HAS GOVERNED THE U-S APPROACH TO THE ISSUE FOR MORE
THAN TWO DECADES. HE INDICATED UNDER QUESTIONING THAT BEIJING,
DESPITE ANGRY CRITICISM OF MR. LEE'S REMARKS, WILL EXERCISE
PATIENCE:
/// SECOND CLINTON ACTUALITY ///
THE CHINESE TEND TO TAKE A LONG LONG VIEW OF THESE
THINGS. AND HAVE MADE CLEAR A SENSITIVITY TO THE
DIFFERENT SYSTEM THAT EXISTS ON TAIWAN, AND A
WILLINGNESS TO ACCOMMODATE IT, AS THEY DID IN WORKING
WITH HONG KONG AND PERHAPS EVEN GOING BEYOND THAT. SO I
THINK THE IMPORTANT THING IS THAT THEY NEED TAKE THE
TIME NECESSARY TO WORK THIS OUT BETWEEN THEMSELVES IN A
PEACEFUL WAY.
/// END ACT ///
MR. CLINTON SAID HE TOLD PRESIDENT JIANG THE ADMINISTRATION
STANDS BY THE TAIWAN RELATIONS ACT, WHICH SAYS THE UNITED STATES
WOULD TAKE VERY SERIOUSLY ANY ABRIDGEMENT OF PEACEFUL DIALOGUE
BETWEEN CHINA AND TAIWAN.
HE SAID A CHINESE RESORT TO FORCE WOULD BE VIEWED "WITH THE
GRAVEST CONCERN" IN WASHINGTON, BUT HE STOPPED SHORT OF SAYING
THAT U-S MILITARY FORCE WOULD BE USED.
MR. CLINTON IS SENDING SENIOR ENVOYS TO BOTH BEIJING AND TAIPEI
THIS WEEK TO PRESS FOR A RESUMPTION OF THE CROSS-STRAITS
DIALOGUE. (SIGNED)
NEB/DG/TVM/GM
21-Jul-99 5:18 PM EDT (2118 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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