Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=07/05/01

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-277948

TITLE= BUSH/CHINA (L)

BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST

DATELINE=STATE DEPARTMENT

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: President Bush has telephoned Chinese President Jiang Zemin, in a sign of easing tensions following the return of a dismantled U-S spy plane that was the focus of a confrontation between the two countries in April. The call came amid new U-S expressions of concern about China's treatment of the Falun Gong religious sect. V-O-A's David Gollust reports from the State Department.

TEXT: A White House spokesman said the 20-minute conversation was cordial, and that President Bush talked about the importance of a constructive relationship, with frank and honest communication.

Officials here say the president raised the issue of two scholars, Li Shaomin and Gao Zhan, who -- it was confirmed Thursday -- have gone on trial in China for espionage.

The officials said they hope the accused, one of whom -- Mr. Li -- is a U-S citizen, will be treated fairly and their cases resolved quickly, so they can be re-united with their families.

A U-S television network N-B-C has reported the two scholars would be tried, convicted and expelled from China before a key vote is taken this month on China's bid to host the 2008 Olympic games.

The State Department, meanwhile, said the United States is "deeply concerned" by reports of the deaths of 12 or more Falun Gong practitioners in a northern Chinese labor camp near Harbin City last month.

Spokesman Richard Boucher said there are conflicting accounts of what actually occurred at the camp. But he said reports of violence and torture against the sect members are "chilling," and said the United States will continue to express strong concern to Chinese authorities about their crackdown against the group.

/// BOUCHER ACTUALITY ///

We call on China to respect freedom of thought, conscience and religion, to allow all persons to practice their religious faiths freely and end the cycle of repression on the Falun Gong -- in particular, the practice of re-education-through-labor that's being used against the Falun Gong. We don't believe that people should be in those camps to begin with.

/// END ACT ///

Mr. Boucher noted a Chinese government claim of a mass suicide among detained Falun Gong members in labor camps.

He called on China to on an urgent basis allow unrestricted visits to the sites by the International Red Cross and other impartial observers to look into the treatment of prisoners.

Under questioning, the spokesman said nothing has occurred since a scathing State Department report on Chinese human rights practices was issued in January to suggest the situation there has improved.

Yet, he reiterated the administration's intention not to intervene in deliberations by the International Olympic Committee on China's effort to land the 2008 games, which has been a major priority for Beijing. (Signed)

NEB/DAG/TDW