DATE=3/1/2000 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT TITLE=CHINA-US-TAIWAN (L) NUMBER=2-259705 BYLINE=ROGER WILKISON DATELINE=BEIJING CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: The commander of U-S forces in the Pacific, Admiral Dennis Blair, has told Chinese military leaders he is concerned about Beijing's renewed threats against Taiwan and urged them to show patience toward the island. VOA correspondent Roger Wilkison reports, Admiral Blair's appeal comes a week after China said Taiwan risks being attacked if it continues to drag its feet on reunification talks with Beijing. TEXT: A spokesman for the US embassy in Beijing says Admiral Blair's two days of discussions with China's top generals were dominated by the current tension between China and Taiwan. Beijing views the island as a wayward province and is losing patience with Taiwanese reluctance to talk seriously about reunification. Taiwan insists it does not want to reunite with China, until the mainland becomes a democracy like Taiwan. The embassy spokesman says Admiral Blair counseled the Chinese brass to show patience and moderation, in seeking a resolution of the Taiwan issue. The spokesman quotes the U-S commander as saying anything that raises tension across the Taiwan Strait does not help the goal of a peaceful resolution to the Taiwan question. China's official Xinhua news agency says Chinese Defense Minister Chi Haotian told Admiral Blair that Beijing is committed to peaceful reunification with Taiwan but will never give up the option to use force. China has long insisted it will attack the island if it declares independence or if foreign forces invade Taiwan. The policy paper last week added Taiwanese foot-dragging on reunification to the list of premises for a potential attack. Diplomats in Beijing view the policy paper as an attempt to influence Taiwan's presidential election later this month. None of the three main candidates supports reunification on Beijing's terms. Xinhua quotes General Fu Quanyou -- the chief of the general staff of the Chinese armed forces -- as warning Admiral Blair about congressional legislation that would increase military cooperation between the United States and Taiwan. China fears such an act - which is opposed by the Clinton Administration- will embolden Taiwan to push for outright independence, a move Beijing says would mean war. China has also demanded that Washington stop selling weapons to the island. The U-S Administration is required by law to provide Taiwan with defensive weapons if its security is threatened. (SIGNED) NEB/RW/FC 01-Mar-2000 06:21 AM EDT (01-Mar-2000 1121 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .
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