DATE=1/27/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-S - CHINA (L)
NUMBER=2-258506
BYLINE=JIM RANDLE
DATELINE=PENTAGON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: U-S Defense Secretary William Cohen says China
has invited him to visit in the next few months,
marking the apparent end to a serious strain in
relations between Washington and Beijing. The
invitation follows several days of talks at the
Pentagon between senior officials from China and the
United States. V-O-A's Jim Randle reports.
TEXT: The three days of meetings brought a top
Chinese general, Xiong Guangkai, (Prono: shiung guang
kai) face-to-face with ranking U-S officials,
including Defense Secretary William Cohen.
/// COHEN ACT ///
I thought it was a very good meeting and we are
on track to get military-to-military relations
back at a normal state of affairs.
/// END ACT ///
Mr. Cohen says when he gets to Beijing, he will invite
Chinese Defense Minister Chi Haotian (prono: shur hao
tian) to visit Washington.
Such visits were abruptly cancelled last year when
American bombers killed three people and injured
dozens more in an accidental attack on the Chinese
embassy compound in Yugoslavia.
This week's talks were hosted by Undersecretary of
Defense Walter Slocombe, who called them `intense' but
`cordial.'
He says China and the United States still have strong
differences of opinion on many issues, including the
status of Taiwan. China regards the island as a
rebellious province, while the United States is
pledged to help protect Taiwan through arms sales and
other means.
China has threatened to use military force against
Taiwan if the island declares independence, and has
been building up missile forces along the coast facing
Taiwan.
China objects to U-S arms sales to Taiwan, but Mr.
Slocombe says if Beijing made fewer threats,
Washington would fell less pressure to sell weapons.
/// SLOCOMBE ACT ///
One of the factors in our decisions about arms
sales to Taiwan, is the state of the Chinese
threat to Taiwan.
/// END ACT ///
Mr. Slocombe says tensions between Taiwan and Beijing
have grown over the past few months. He says
Washington is urging both sides to tone down rhetoric
and military activity as Taiwan prepares for elections
in March. (Signed)
NEB/JR/TVM/gm
27-Jan-2000 18:38 PM EDT (27-Jan-2000 2338 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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