Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=11/03/00

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=SHELTON / CHINA L-O

NUMBER=2-268784

BYLINE=KIRK TROY

DATELINE=BEIJING

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: The Chairman of the U-S Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Henry Shelton, is in Beijing for talks with Chinese leaders and to observe military exercises. The high-level visit comes as the two nations attempt to repair relations damaged by NATO's bombing of China's embassy in Belgrade last year. Kirk Troy reports from Beijing.

TEXT: General Shelton arrived in Beijing (Thursday night) with plans to meet with high-ranking military and government officials in the capital. He told VOA before talks began that he expects to discuss a number of issues of bilateral and regional importance.

/// SHELTON ACT ///

This morning, of course, my plan is to talk with the Chinese leaders about areas of mutual concern, mutual interest, and also our military- to-military relationship. I also will be discussing the areas that I think all of us are concerned about and that is peace, prosperity and security throughout the region and ways that we can in fact promote that.

/// END ACT ///

After meetings in Beijing, General Shelton is to travel south to Nanjing, where he will attend a live-fire military exercise at a People's Liberation Army base. This will mark the first time a U-S official has been invited to such an event. The special forces teams taking part in the exercise would be some of the first troops called upon by China in case of any armed conflict with Taiwan. The United States is a large supplier of arms to Taiwan, which is a sore point in Sino-US relations.

China completely severed military ties with the United States in last year after U-S warplanes bombed the Chinese embassy in Belgrade during NATO's air campaign against Serbia.

China still refuses the Pentagon's explanation that the bombing was a targeting mistake. But military and diplomatic relations have slowly improved since contacts were re-established earlier this year. (signed)

NEB/HK/KT/JO/PFH