DATE=2/29/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-S / CHINA / TAIWAN (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-259653
BYLINE=ROGER WILKISON
DATELINE=BEIJING
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The commander of U-S Pacific forces, Admiral
Dennis Blair, has met with senior Chinese military
leaders to express Washington's concern about
Beijing's most recent threats to attack Taiwan. But
he has run up against China's insistence that it will
never renounce the use of force in dealing with
Taiwan, and its demand that Washington stop weapons
sales to what the mainland considers a renegade
province. V-O-A correspondent Roger Wilkison reports
from the Chinese capital.
TEXT: Admiral Blair is on a five-day visit to China,
as part of recently-renewed contacts between the U-S
and Chinese armed forces. His trip was scheduled
before China said last week that it might have to use
force if Taiwan drags its feet on beginning
reunification talks with the mainland. The
possibility of new cross-strait tensions ahead of
Taiwan's presidential election next month is stirring
up a storm in Washington.
China says the Taiwan question is the most sensitive
issue in Sino - U-S relations. Foreign Ministry
spokesman Zhu Bangzao, speaking through an
interpreter, says Beijing regards any expression of
U-S concern about Taiwan as an intervention in China's
own affairs.
/// 1st INTERPRETER ACT ///
Taiwan is an integral part of Chinese territory.
The question of Taiwan is purely China's
internal affair, and no foreign country has the
right to interfere.
/// END ACT ///
Mr. Zhu says China wants the United States to honor
its commitment, under a 1982 joint communique, to
gradually reduce and eventually halt arms sales to the
island.
/// 2nd INTERPRETER ACT ///
We strongly urge the U-S side to abide by its
commitments, without doing anything that will
give rise to tension across the Taiwan Strait,
and anything that will obstruct the peaceful
reunification of China.
/// END ACT ///
Under the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act, the United States
is obliged to provide weapons to the island for its
own defense. China's latest threat to use force
against Taiwan has strengthened pro-Taiwan lawmakers
in Washington, who want to bolster military ties
between the United States and the island. That
possibility has also aroused Beijing's ire.
Reunification with Taiwan is a sacred cause for the
Chinese government. Mr. Zhu stresses that it will be
achieved through whatever means are necessary.
/// 3rd INTERPRETER ACT ///
The Chinese government is always committed to
the solution of the question of Taiwan through
peaceful reunification and "one country, two
systems." But we will never renounce the use of
force.
/// END ACT ///
China's official Xinhua news agency reports that same
message was delivered to Admiral Blair by Chinese
Defense Minister Chi Haotian.
U-S officials say the Clinton administration is
especially worried that China's stepped-up rhetoric
against Taiwan could sabotage efforts to get Congress
to pass legislation granting China permanent normal
trading rights in the United States. But Mr. Zhu says
the two issues are separate and should not be linked.
/// 4th INTERPRETER ACT ///
We are resolutely opposed to link[ing] these two
questions up. We believe all U-S congressmen with
vision will support permanent N-T-R [normal trade
relations] for China.
/// END ACT ///
Admiral Blair will fly on Wednesday to Nanjing, where
the regional command that would form the bulk of any
Chinese attack on Taiwan is based. (Signed)
NEB/RW/FC/WTW
29-Feb-2000 06:48 AM EDT (29-Feb-2000 1148 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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