DATE=4/18/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CHINA-US WEAPONS-TAIWAN (L)
NUMBER=2-261460
BYLINE=ROGER WILKISON
DATELINE=BEIJING
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: China is urging the United States to stop all
arms sales to Taiwan, following a U-S decision Monday
to supply the island with missiles and other
equipment, but not advanced destroyers. VOA
correspondent Roger Wilkison reports from Beijing,
China says all such U-S weapons sales strengthen pro-
independence forces on the island, cause tension
across the Taiwan Strait and undermine Sino-U-S
relations.
TEXT: The Chinese response to news of the latest U-S
arms sales to Taiwan was low-key. Beijing had warned
that the sale of four sophisticated destroyers
equipped with the Aegis battle system would be
considered a hostile act. But Washington decided to
defer the sale of such high-tech weapons and is
providing Taiwan with air-to-air and anti-ship
missiles instead.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Sun Yuxi --
speaking Tuesday through an interpreter -- says
Washington should stop all arms sales to the island
China considers a wayward province.
/////INTERPRETER ACTUALITY/////
The Chinese government and people have always been
opposed to any sophisticated arms sale to Taiwan by
the United States and have launched solemn
representations to the U-S side on many occasions.
/////END ACTUALITY/////
Mr. Sun says Washington should live up to commitments
it has made to China to gradually reduce and
eventually halt all weapons sales to Taiwan. But
under U-S law, Washington is obligated to provide
Taiwan with defensive weapons.
Mr. Sun says U-S arms sales to Taiwan only create
tension in the region by strengthening those elements
who seek formal independence for the island.
/////INTERPRETER ACTUALITY/////
The arms sale will give rise to the splittist force in
Taiwan and undermine cross-strait relations. So we
hope that the U-S side will abide by its commitment so
as to insure the sound development of China-U-S
relations and lead to the improvement of cross-strait
relations.
/////END ACTUALITY/////
Western diplomats in Beijing say China is probably
relieved that Washington decided to defer the Aegis
sale. That system features an advanced radar that can
track more than one hundred targets simultaneously.
China fears that Aegis would undercut the tactical
advantage provided by Beijing's growing arsenal of
missiles. (SIGNED)
NEB/RW/FC
18-Apr-2000 06:26 AM EDT (18-Apr-2000 1026 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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