DATE=1/26/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CHINA-US-TALKS (L-UPDATE)
NUMBER=2-258464
BYLINE=JIM RANDLE
DATELINE=PENTAGON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Talks aimed at repairing strained relations
between the United States and China are underway at
the Pentagon. China cut nearly all military-to-
military ties when U-S bombers damaged the Chinese
embassy complex in Belgrade last May. As V-O-A's Jim
Randle reports, this week's talks included a meeting
Wednesday between Defense Secretary William Cohen and
a senior Chinese general, Deputy Chief of Staff Xiong
Guangkai.
TEXT: Pentagon officials say the talks are an
important sign that relations between Washington and
Beijing are getting back on track, adding that they
may lead to an exchange of visits by defense ministers
from China and the United States later this year.
A visit by U-S Defense Secretary William Cohen to
China was canceled after the accidental bombing of the
Chinese Embassy in Belgrade, Yugoslavia during the
Kosovo conflict last May. The attack killed three
people and injured about 20 more.
The United States blamed the bombing on an
intelligence blunder, prompting Beijing to demand that
the person responsible be named and punished.
Defense experts said that was one of a series of
issues that could make these talks contentious, but
Pentagon officials have said little about the
substance of the discussions so far.
The U-S Undersecretary of Defense for Policy, Walter
Slocombe, is hosting a delegation headed by Chinese
Lieutenant General Xiong Guangkai (prono: sheong guan-
kai). The general is deputy chief of staff of the
People's Liberation Army and a key member of Beijing's
intelligence and policy leadership.
The talks are also expected to include the situation
in North Korea, U-S plans for ballistic missile
defenses, expansion of the NATO alliance and Asia-
Pacific regional issues.
The talks could lead to a resumption of exchanges of
senior military officers and civilian defense
officials, and port visits by warships and other
exchanges.
U-S officials say such exchanges are key to keeping
occasional frictions and accidents from turning into
open conflict between the world's most populous nation
and the world's most powerful military.
But the Republican-controlled U-S Congress - angered
by allegations of Chinese theft of U-S nuclear secrets
and donations to rival Democrats - has put sharp
limits on bilateral military relations.
These restrictions limit joint war-games, discussions
of defenses against nuclear, chemical or biological
weapons and several other key topics.
Meanwhile, Beijing complains about U-S military
support for Taiwan, despite U.S. recognition of
Beijing as the sole legitimate government of China.
(Signed)
NEB/JR/JP
26-Jan-2000 16:29 PM EDT (26-Jan-2000 2129 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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