DATE=12/7/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CHINA / U-S MILITARY (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-256919
BYLINE=GRACE CUTLER
DATELINE=HONG KONG
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Military relations between China and the
United States appear to be improving in the wake of
the bombing of Chinese Embassy in Belgrade during the
NATO's air attacks on Yugoslavia earlier this year.
On a visit to Hong Kong, the U-S commander of the
Seventh Fleet made it clear that Washington is
prepared to resume military ties when Beijing is
ready. Grace Cutler reports from Hong Kong.
TEXT: Vice Admiral Walter Doran says U-S/Sino
military relations still have a way to go before
reaching the level they were before the bombing, but
things are improving.
Beijing severed military ties with Washington after
the NATO's bombing of the Chinese embassy in May.
Since then China, which has responsibility for Hong
Kong's defense, has allowed only select U-S military
vessels and planes to enter the Chinese territory,
which is a favored port of call for off duty American
service personnel.
Vice Admiral Doran stresses that the fact that his
ship, a guided missile cruiser, was allowed entry in
Hong Kong for a port call does not mean that
military ties between China and the United States are
back to normal.
/// DORAN ACT ///
We are not there yet. We are very happy to be
back in Hong Kong. And we would look forward to
the normalization of relations. What the time
line is I don't know. We are ready.
/// END ACT ///
Vice Admiral Doran is the highest-ranking U-S military
official to visit Hong Kong since the NATO bombing.
In another sign of warming ties, several People's
Liberation Army officers have accepted an invitation
to a reception aboard the U-S-S Blue Ridge.
Last week a Hong Kong garrison of the People's
Liberation Army and U-S military personnel
participated in a search and rescue exercise.
NEB/GC/KL
07-Dec-1999 08:40 AM EDT (07-Dec-1999 1340 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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