15 September 1999
CSIS Conference on U.S.-China Relations Hosts Many Views
(Experts predict prosperous China, Taiwan issue lingers) (540)
By Matt Hashimoto
USIA Staff Writer
Washington -- China's development of a modern economy will become "a
cornerstone" of the world economy, Dr. R. Fenton-May, Director of
Operations Development at the Coca-Cola Company, told an audience of
China experts and congressional staff members and diplomats at the
September 14 conference on U.S.-China relations sponsored by
Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies
(CSIS).
Fenton-May urged continuation of "economic and cultural relations,"
which not only cause "significant increase in export and investment,"
but also enhances China's integration into the international community
"based on free market."
Former National Security Council Advisor Zbigniew Brzesinski and
former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger also saw opportunity with
the emergence of a peaceful and prosperous China, but warned of the
potential danger of the Taiwan issue for U.S.-China relations.
"I don't believe U.S. should engage in unconditional commitment," CSIS
Counselor Brzesinski said, but the United States should stay with a
"one China" policy because the existence of "two Chinas" is "not
simply feasible," nor is it in either the U.S. national interest or
the region's interest.
Kissinger reinforced the idea of a "one China" policy, calling it an
"ambiguity" that has managed this "highly unusual situations" for
thirty years.
"Taiwan is a part of China," declared China's Ambassador to the United
States Li Zhaoxing, and cautioned conference participants that
Taiwan's recent suggestion that China-Taiwan relations should be
conducted on a state-to-state basis "goes too far."
Conference participants also addressed the issue of China's accession
to the World Trade Organization (WTO). Senator Max Baucus (Democrat of
Minnesota) and Representative David Dreier (Republican of California)
urged the Clinton Administration to push for China's accession to the
WTO.
China's admission to WTO, Baucus said, not only "open(s) a significant
market to American farmers and workers," but also "incorporate(s)
China into (the) international community," allowing its pro-reform
leaders to "use WTO to anchor internal economic reform."
Moreover, Baucus stressed, "Chinese admission also brings Taiwan in
(without confrontation)."
Dreier criticized President Clinton for turning down Premier Zhu
Rongji's offer in April, suggesting that any subsequent deal will be
"as good as the deal rejected." There is "very good chance to win
(Chinese membership)," he said, for even protectionists will support
"gaining access to 1.3 billion consumers."
Thomas Friedman, The New York Times columnist, said that China can
become wealthier only by "(plugging) into new international system,"
which, he said, is symbolized by the World Wide Web, "all connected,
nobody in charge."
According to Friedman, China is in the middle of a wrenching
transition to the new system. The United States, the columnist said,
must "prevent China from slipping to kleptocracy," instead of
"democracy." China's admission to WTO, he stressed, is "one of the few
levers" to promote democracy and free market in the nation.
Despite recent "preoccupation among Asian leaders with economic
issues, security issues dominate again in the region," Deputy
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Affairs Kurt
Campbell said.
"The Korean Peninsula, Pakistan-India, East Timor, and
China-Taiwan...," all of today's "vexing security concerns" in the
world reside in the Asia-Pacific region, Campbell said.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
