DATE=10/28/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CHINA-U-S (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-255558
BYLINE=ROGER WILKISON
DATELINE=BEIJING
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: China has lashed out at a U-S Congressional
panel's move to boost U-S military ties with Taiwan,
calling it a threat to peace and stability in Asia and
harmful to Sino-American relations. VOA correspondent
Roger Wilkison reports that while Beijing says its ties
with Washington are improving, it is still refusing to
accept American explanations that the bombing of China's
embassy in Yugoslavia last May was an accident.
TEXT: China's indignation was focused Thursday on the
approval by the U-S House of Representatives' International
Relations Committee of a measure aimed at expanding U-S-
Taiwan security ties. The Taiwan Security Enhancement Act
would increase training and exchanges between the two
militaries and establish lines of communication during
crises. It also states that it is in America's national
interest to make clear that Washington will protect Taiwan
from outside coercion and force.
China, which regards Taiwan as a wayward province that must
be reunited with the mainland, says the act encroaches on
China's sovereignty and interferes in China's internal
affairs. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue
- speaking through an interpreter - blames what she calls
"a small group of congressmen" for pushing the legislative
measure forward, at a time when both countries are seeking
to repair ties damaged by NATO's bombing of China's embassy
in Belgrade.
/////INTERPRETER ACTUALITY/////
I would like to say that, at this stage, China-U-S
relations are improving. And whenever there are positive
developments in China-U-S relations, some people in the U-S
who are hostile toward China will do all they can to
sabotage the improvement and development of China-U-S
relations.
/////END ACTUALITY/////
Ms. Zhang noted that the Clinton Administration is opposed
to the act and urged the administration and its allies in
Congress to prevent the measure from becoming law. She
says anti-China U-S legislators should correct what she
describes as an erroneous action.
/////INTERPRETER ACTUALITY/////
What they're really trying to do is reinforce the domestic
law of the U-S and to provide the so-called legal basis for
providing sophisticated weapons and equipment and
establishing direct links between the armed forces of the
U-S and Taiwan and obstruct the unification course of
China.
/////END ACTUALITY/////
Ms. Zhang says she is certain the latest move by Congress
was timed to coincide with talks Thursday in Beijing
between U-S Undersecretary of State Thomas Pickering and
Chinese Vice-Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi. Mr. Pickering
is hoping to renew bilateral dialogues on such issues as
human rights and arms proliferation that Beijing cut off
after the embassy bombing. But Ms. Zhang gave no
indication that China is willing to re-start those
discussions.
Ms. Zhang also insists that Beijing is not fully satisfied
with Washington's explanation of the embassy bombing, which
the United States attributed to intelligence blunders.
/////INTERPRETER ACTUALITY/////
To be specific, we think the United States should give
serious consideration to the request of the Chinese
government about compensation and give a satisfactory
account to the Chinese government and people
/////END ACTUALITY/////
It is not clear what more China wants the United States to
do. Washington has already agreed to pay four-point-five
million dollars in compensation to the families of the
three Chinese journalists killed and 27 other people
wounded in the bombing. Talks on compensation for damages
done to the Belgrade embassy and to U-S installations in
China by Chinese demonstrators are supposed to resume soon.
(SIGNED)
NEB/RW/FC
28-Oct-1999 07:05 AM EDT (28-Oct-1999 1105 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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