DATE=7/25/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-S - CHINA (L-UPDATE)
NUMBER=2-252123
BYLINE=NICK SIMEONE
DATELINE=SINGAPORE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Secretary of State Madeleine Albright says the
United States and China still have a way to go before
relations can get back to normal in the wake of NATO's
accidental bombing of Beijing's embassy in Belgrade.
She made the comments to reporters after meeting in
Singapore Sunday with Chinese Foreign Minister Tang
Jiaxuan. Correspondent Nick Simeone reports.
TEXT: Nearly three months after the NATO bombing,
Secretary Albright told reporters Sino-American
relations are still not on a normal footing but that
her talks on the sidelines of a meeting of Asian
foreign ministers helped to ease tensions.
/// ALBRIGHT ACT ///
Obviously, I can not speak for the foreign
minister, but I believe the meeting has helped us
to move back in the right direction of engaging
on the hard issues, whether or not there is
agreement, while searching for areas of common
ground.
/// end act ///
Her meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Tang was the
highest level contact Washington and Beijing have had
since the NATO bombing, an accident that China has yet
to consider resolved and one that continues to bedevil
Sino-American relations. Secretary Albright says
Washington wants to get the matter over with, and a
senior administration official who just ended talks in
Beijing says the Chinese do as well. In a measure of
some progress, China is agreeing to see a number of
envoys sent by Washington. Another will return next
week to continue discussions on possible humanitarian
compensation. The bombing killed three Chinese
nationals.
At a working lunch on the sidelines of the ASEAN
foreign ministers' meeting, a number of security
issues that have sent tremors through Asia came up,
including Beijing's threats to use force against
Taiwan, following Taiwanese President Lee Teng-hui's
announcement that he would deal with the mainland on a
state-to-state basis. Secretary Albright repeated U-S
support for a one-China policy and appealed to Foreign
Minister Tang to resolve the dispute with Taiwan
peacefully.
/// SECOND ALBRIGHT ACT ///
Foreign Minister Tang indicated that they were
listening very carefully to what Mr. Lee was
saying, that they also wished to have a peaceful
resolution but they also reiterated their
standard position which is that they do not
renounce the use of force.
/// END ACT ///
At his own news conference, the Chinese Foreign
minister told reporters he delivered a warning to
Washington to be very careful not to say or do
anything that may fan the flames of Taiwan
independence. (signed)
NEB/NJS/WTW
25-Jul-1999 12:57 PM LOC (25-Jul-1999 1657 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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