DATE=2/14/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-226754
TITLE=CHINA / U-S / IRAQ (L)
BYLINE=ROGER WILKISON
DATELINE=BEIJING
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE UNITED STATES AND CHINA SAY THEY AGREE THAT IRAQ MUST
GIVE UNITED NATIONS ARMS INSPECTORS UNFETTERED ACCESS TO
SUSPECTED WEAPONS SITES, BUT THE TWO SIDES STILL DISAGREE OVER
THE USE OF FORCE AS THE BEST WAY TO ENSURE IRAQI COMPLIANCE WITH
U-N RESOLUTIONS. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ROGER WILKISON REPORTS FROM
BEIJING THAT U-S ENVOY BILL RICHARDSON TRIED TO PUT A POSITIVE
SPIN ON HIS MEETINGS WITH CHINESE OFFICIALS BUT ACKNOWLEDGED THAT
CHINA WILL NOT SUPPORT A MILITARY STRIKE AGAINST IRAQ.
TEXT: MR. RICHARDSON'S ONE-DAY TRIP TO BEIJING IS PART OF A
DIPLOMATIC OFFENSIVE BY WASHINGTON TO EXPLAIN WHY IT IS
CONSIDERING MILITARY ACTION IF IRAQ DOES NOT ALLOW U-N WEAPONS
INSPECTORS TO SEARCH FREELY FOR CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS.
THE U-S AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED NATIONS MET FOR FOUR HOURS WITH
CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTER QIAN QICHEN AND OTHER OFFICIALS AND SAID
HE PROVIDED THEM WITH DOCUMENTS DETAILING IRAQ'S CONTINUED
PRODUCTION OF WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION. ONE OF THOSE WEAPONS,
MR. RICHARDSON SAID, IS A GAS CALLED V-X, A DROP OF WHICH CAN
KILL A PERSON IN 15 MINUTES. HE SAID U-N WEAPONS INSPECTORS HAVE
EVIDENCE THAT IRAQ CAN PRODUCE 200 TONS OF THE SUBSTANCE.
THE U-S ENVOY SAID WASHINGTON RESERVES THE RIGHT TO USE FORCE
UNDER U-N RESOLUTIONS BUT THAT IT PREFERS A PEACEFUL SOLUTION.
/////RICHARDSON ACT/////
I HAVE COME HERE TO CHINA TO EXPLAIN OUR POLICY. I CAME
TO CONSULT AND NOT TO PREACH. I DID NOT COME HERE TO
GET CHINA'S SUPPORT FOR AIR STRIKES. THE PRESIDENT HAS
NOT MADE THAT DECISION.
/////END ACT/////
CHINA HAS FIRMLY OPPOSED ANY ATTACK ON IRAQ AND HAS INSISTED ON A
NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT TO THE STALEMATE OVER U-N WEAPONS
INSPECTIONS. FOREIGN MINISTER QIAN ISSUED A STATEMENT AFTER HIS
MEETING WITH MR. RICHARDSON SAYING THE USE OF FORCE AGAINST IRAQ
WILL ONLY CAUSE UNNECESSARY BLOODSHED AND WILL NOT RESOLVE THE
CRISIS.
MR. RICHARDSON EMPHASIZED THAT WASHINGTON AND BEIJING AGREE THAT
IRAQ MUST COMPLY WITH ALL U-N RESOLUTIONS AND GRANT ARMS
INSPECTORS CLEAR ACCESS TO SUSPECTED WEAPONS SITES. WHERE THE
TWO U-N SECURITY COUNCIL MEMBERS DIFFER --HE SAID-- IS ON THE
MEANS TO ACHIEVE IRAQI COMPLIANCE.
THE U-S ENVOY SAID ALL EFFORTS TO FIND A DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION TO
THE STANDOFF BETWEEN IRAQ AND U-N WEAPONS INSPECTORS HAVE FAILED.
/////RICHARDSON ACT/////
SINCE OCTOBER 29TH, WHEN THIS CRISIS STARTED, THE UNITED
STATES HAS BEEN PATIENT AND PUSHED DIPLOMATIC SOLUTIONS.
WE'RE STILL AT THAT STAGE WHERE WE HOPE THERE WILL BE A
DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION. IT DOES NOT LOOK VERY GOOD OR
PROMISING RIGHT NOW.
/////END ACT/////
MR. RICHARDSON SAID HE THINKS THE U-S/CHINESE RELATIONSHIP IS
SUFFICIENTLY SOLID TO WITHSTAND THE STRONG OBJECTIONS CHINA HAS
TO ANY POTENTIAL U-S MILITARY ACTION AGAINST IRAQ. (SIGNED)
NEB/RW/KL
14-Feb-98 11:09 AM EST (1609 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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