DATE=3/21/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CHINA - U-S - TAIWAN (L-O)
NUMBER=2-260417
BYLINE=STEPHANIE MANN
DATELINE=BEIJING
INTERNET=YES
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The United States is urging China and Taiwan
to resolve their differences peacefully and resume
negotiations. Correspondent Stephanie Mann reports a
senior U-S diplomat brought that message to Chinese
leaders in Beijing.
TEXT: U-S Ambassador to the United Nations Richard
Holbrooke met (throughout the day Tuesday) with
Chinese President Jiang Zemin, Vice Premier Qian
Qichen, and Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan. The Taiwan
issue figured prominently in their talks.
Ambassador Holbrooke's visit comes on the heels of
Saturday's Taiwan presidential election. Although the
original purpose of the mission was to discuss U-N
issues, it is being used to exchange views on the
situation across the Taiwan Straits.
The official Xinhua news agency reports President
Jiang told Mr. Holbrooke the reunification of Taiwan
with mainland China is conducive to the healthy
development of Sino-American relations. He said the
Taiwan issue is an internal Chinese matter. He added
that the leaders across the Taiwan Straits can hold
talks, but a pre-requisite for those talks is the one-
China principle.
China considers Taiwan a renegade province and wants
it reunited with the mainland under the formula of
"one-country, two-systems" that was used for Hong
Kong's return to Chinese rule.
Before meeting President Jiang, Ambassador Holbrooke
said he was bringing a message from President Clinton
- and the Chinese leader said he had a letter to send
back to Mr. Clinton.
Mr. Holbrooke said his talks with Foreign Minister
Tang Jiaxuan were excellent, and he called the Chinese
position very constructive. He says he repeated U-S
support for Beijing's stand that Taiwan is a part of
China, and he urged Beijing and Taipei to resume
peaceful negotiations.
The Xinhua news agency reports Foreign Minister Tang
said the United States should recognize the
sensitivity and complexity of the Taiwan issue. Mr.
Tang also said the United States should abide by its
commitments - including three joint communiques signed
with Beijing and its agreement not to support Taiwan's
independence.
Mr. Holbrooke is the first of four senior U-S
officials scheduled to visit Beijing in the coming
weeks. National Security Adviser Sandy Berger plans
to visit the Chinese capital next week, and the
Commerce and Agriculture Secretaries are expected in
April.
Meanwhile, former Congressman Lee Hamilton is making a
visit to Taipei this week. He is expected to urge
Taiwan's new leaders to resume a dialogue with
Beijing.
The Taiwan issue has been a constant irritant in
relations between Washington and Beijing. The United
States changed its diplomatic recognition from the
government in Taipei to the government in Beijing in
1979, but Washington maintains unofficial relations
with Taiwan.
U-S policy is bound by the bilateral communiques it
has signed with Beijing, as well as a U-S law that
requires the United States to provide defensive
weapons to Taiwan.
At the regular Foreign Ministry briefing, the
spokesman was asked what kind of role the United
States could play in promoting cross-Straits
relations. The Chinese spokesman replied that the
United States should adhere to the commitments it has
made to Beijing and stop its arms sales to Taiwan.
(SIGNED)
NEB/SMN/RAE
21-Mar-2000 09:01 AM EDT (21-Mar-2000 1401 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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