DATE=3/30/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CHINA-US (L)
NUMBER=2-260766
BYLINE=ROGER WILKISON
DATELINE=BEIJING
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: National Security Advisor Sandy Berger and
Chinese leaders have ended discussions focussing on
Sino-U-S differences over Taiwan. Correspondent Roger
Wilkison reports human rights, and White House efforts
to get congressional approval for permanent normal
trading status for China were also discussed during
the two-day talks in Beijing.
TEXT: Mr. Berger met separately with Chinese
President Jiang Zemin, Premier Zhu Rongji and other
top officials.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Sun Yuxi - speaking through
an interpreter- said the two sides covered many
topics.
/// INTERPRETER ACT ///
Both sides exchanged views on China-U-S
relations, the question of Taiwan, China's
accession to the W-T-O, the P-N-T-R (permanent
normal trading status), non-proliferation and
other regional and international issues of
common interest.
/// END ACT ///
Mr. Sun did not mention human rights. Beijing is
furious with Washington for its plan to censure China
at a U-N Human Rights meeting in Geneva.
Another issue discussed is whether Congress will give
Beijing permanent normal trading relations status, P-
N-T-R.
/// INTERPRETER ACT ///
Mr. Berger expressed, introduced, to the Chinese
side the efforts made by the U-S executive
branch pushing for the adoption of P-N-T-R in
Congress.
/// END ACT ///
But the main focus was on Taiwan. Spokesman Sun
reiterated Beijing's concerns about U-S support for
the island, especially its sales of sophisticated
weapons to Taipei, which Chinese diplomats say should
stop immediately.
/// INTERPRETER ACT ///
The Chinese side.urged the U-S side to see how
important and sensitive the question of Taiwan
is at this stage.
/// END ACT ///
China wants the United States to adhere to agreements
to gradually reduce and eventually halt such sales.
But Washington is bound by law to provide Taiwan with
defensive weapons. A senior U-S official told
reporters Sino-U-S agreements specify that regional
tensions can be a determining factor in weapons
deliveries to the island.
China caused alarm by threatening an attack on Taiwan
if it chose a pro-independence candidate in its March
18th presidential election. Defying Beijing, Taiwanese
voters chose Chen Shui-bian, whose party supports
independence - but who personally has backed away from
that position.
China has taken a wait-and-see attitude toward the new
leader, and the senior U-S official says Mr. Berger
believes both sides have acted prudently and made
positive gestures.
The U-S official says Mr. Berger reiterated
Washington's adherence to the one-China policy, with
its implication that Taiwan is part of China. But he
also stressed the importance Washington attaches to a
peaceful resolution of the conflict. (SIGNED)
NEB/RW/RAE
30-Mar-2000 09:25 AM EDT (30-Mar-2000 1425 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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