DATE=1/21/2000
TYPE=BACKGROUNDER
TITLE=U-S / CHINA / MILITARY
NUMBER=5-45292
BYLINE=JIM RANDLE
DATELINE=PENTAGON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Washington and Beijing are taking steps to
mend relations badly strained by the accidental U-S
attack on a Chinese embassy during the Kosovo crisis.
One sign of the effort is next week's visit to
Washington by a top Chinese general. V-O-A's Jim
Randle reports from the Pentagon.
TEXT: Lieutenant General Xiong Guangkai (prono: shung
guan-kai) is the deputy chief of the Chinese General
Staff and the military representative of Chinese
President Jiang Zemin.
Pentagon spokesman Ken bacon says the General will
meet with top pentagon officials, including Defense
Secretary William Cohen as well as members of Congress
and various U-S experts on China.
Mr. Bacon calls the visit (1-24 to 1-26) an effort to
rebuild the once-extensive contacts between the U-S
and Chinese militaries.
/// Bacon act ///
So discussions will cover a wide range of areas.
He will -- we will talk about our -- compare our
strategic assessments of the 21st century. We
will talk about the geopolitical conditions in
the Asia Pacific. We will talk about our
military modernization programs in the two
countries.
/// end act ///
China severed almost all such military to military
ties when U-S precision-guided bombs wrecked the
Chinese Embassy in Belgrade, killing three people, and
injuring many more.
Washington apologized for the attack several times,
calling it an accident. The United States paid
millions of dollars to compensate families of the dead
and to replace the building.
The renewed talks come as China says it will allow
major U-S warships to once again visit Hong Kong. U-S
officials say a top American military commander and
the Defense Secretary may visit Beijing in the next
few months.
/// OPT /// American University Professor Zhao (prono:
chuan-shen Jaow), an expert on China, says officials
in Beijing may be putting aside their anger over the
embassy bombing because they understand good relations
with Washington are a key to stability and prosperity
in Asia.
Military experts say China's military is no match for
U-S power and technology -- at the moment. But
Professor Quansheng says that could change as Beijing
gradually modernizes its forces.
/// Quansheng Zhao act ///
It is not likely in the near future China will
become a challenger. However, in the long run,
as a general trend indicated, that may be
happening in the future.
/// end act ///
Rochester Institute of Technology History Professor
Richard Chu says the size and power of the United
States and China make it vital that they find a way to
overcome frictions between them.
/// Richard Chu act ///
It (China) could be both (either) a friendly
nation or a potential adversary. And
particularly over the Taiwan issue. So I think
our national interest is to know each other, to
know their intentions and to explain to them our
intentions.
/// end act --- END OPT -- ///
The relationship between China and the United States
may face another test as Taiwan holds elections in
March.
Beijing regards the prosperous island as an integral
part of China, and has threatened military action if
Taiwan declares its independence. During the last
election four years ago, heated campaign rhetoric on
Taiwan, and Chinese efforts to use a show of force to
frighten Taiwan's voters away from an independent
stance brought severe tensions to the area.
China's military `tested' missiles in waters close to
Taiwan and groups of major American warships steamed
toward the island.
A U-S official who watches Chinese issues closely says
the level of tension, as measured by angry rhetoric in
the Chinese, Taiwanese and Hong Kong press, seems to
be growing. (Signed)
NEB/PT
21-Jan-2000 19:09 PM EDT (22-Jan-2000 0009 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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