DATE=2/18/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CHINA / U-S SECURITY (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-259305
BYLINE=ROGER WILKISON
DATELINE=BEIJING
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: China and the United States have concluded two
days of high-level talks in Beijing on strategic
security issues, the first such discussions since
bilateral ties went into a tailspin following NATO's
bombing of the Chinese embassy in Yugoslavia last May.
As VOA correspondent Roger Wilkison reports, U-S
officials say the talks were dominated by Chinese
concerns over U-S relations with Taiwan and
Washington's plans to build an anti-missile shield.
TEXT: The U-S delegation was headed by Deputy U-S
Secretary of State Strobe Talbott and included top
officials from the White House and the Pentagon. Mr.
Talbott and his group met with Chinese Vice Foreign
Minister Yang Jiechi and also held talks with Vice
Premier Qian Qichen and two top Chinese generals.
Both sides sought to emphasize the positive aspects of
the talks. China's Foreign Ministry says the renewal
of the bilateral dialogue on security should be seen
as a sign of improving relations. Asked by Associated
Press Television News early Friday how the talks were
going, Mr. Talbott was equally diplomatic.
/// TALBOTT ACTUALITY ///
They've been going very well. We've covered a
lot of ground. The tone has been excellent.
Substantively, they've been very serious.
/// END ACTUALITY ///
A U-S official acknowledged after the end of the talks
that China is firmly opposed to U-S plans to deploy an
anti-ballistic missile defense system, fearing that it
could be used to protect Taiwan. Although no decision
has been made on including the island within the
system, China is worried that the anti-missile shield
would counter its own growing arsenal of missiles and
make it easier for Taiwan to resist Chinese overtures
for reunification with the mainland.
The official says the U-S delegation expressed concern
about the build-up of Chinese missile strength in
Fujian province, which is just across the Taiwan
Strait from the island. He says U-S officials
stressed that U-S arms sales to Taiwan are driven by
the island's defensive needs. The official says the
U-S delegation told their Chinese counterparts that it
is up to all parties to restrain themselves from
creating further tension in the area.
Another U-S official quotes the Chinese as saying they
want to create a better climate across the Taiwan
Strait. Taiwanese voters will go to the polls on
March 18th to elect a new president, and Chinese
officials say they are waiting to see what the
island's new leader says and does.
Although China has resumed military contacts with the
United States and renewed its security dialogue with
Washington, U-S officials say Beijing gave no sign as
to when it would be ready to resume bilateral talks on
human rights and arms proliferation. Talks on these
issues were also cut off after NATO's bombing of
China's embassy in Yugoslavia. (Signed)
NEB/RW/KL
18-Feb-2000 07:13 AM EDT (18-Feb-2000 1213 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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