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DATE=6/27/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-234642
TITLE=SUMMIT / TAIWAN (L ONLY)
BYLINE=ROGER WILKISON
DATELINE=BEIJING
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
 INTRO:  FROM THE CHINESE STANDPOINT, THE MOST-BURNING ISSUE ON 
THE SINO / U-S AGENDA IS TAIWAN.  BEIJING WANTS WASHINGTON TO 
STOP ARMS SALES TO THE ISLAND IT CONSIDERS A RENEGADE PROVINCE.  
BUT -- AS V-O-A'S ROGER WILKISON REPORTS -- PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS
TOLD CHINESE PRESIDENT JIANG ZEMIN THERE WILL BE NO CHANGE IN 
WASHINGTON'S TAIWAN POLICY.
TEXT:  THE UNITED STATES IS CAUGHT BETWEEN INTERNATIONAL 
AGREEMENTS IT HAS SIGNED WITH CHINA AND AN ACT OF CONGRESS THAT 
LIMITS ANY ADMINISTRATION'S MANEUVERABILITY ON THE TAIWAN ISSUE. 
UNDER THREE JOINT COMMUNIQUES SIGNED BETWEEN WASHINGTON AND 
BEIJING, WASHINGTON HAS PROMISED TO GRADUALLY REDUCE AND 
EVENTUALLY ELIMINATE ITS ARMS SALES TO TAIWAN.  BUT -- UNDER THE 
1979 TAIWAN RELATIONS ACT -- THE UNITED STATES IS REQUIRED TO 
SELL SO-CALLED DEFENSIVE WEAPONS TO THE ISLAND AND COME TO ITS 
AID IN CASE IT IS ATTACKED.  CHINA HAS NEVER ABANDONED ITS THREAT
TO USE FORCE TO RETAKE TAIWAN.
PRESIDENT JIANG REITERATED CHINA'S POSITION SATURDAY AT A 
POST-SUMMIT NEWS CONFERENCE.
     /////JIANG ACTUALITY (IN CHINESE) ESTABLISH AND FADE/////
CALLING THE TAIWAN ISSUE THE MOST IMPORTANT AND SENSITIVE ISSUE 
IN U-S / CHINA RELATIONS, THE CHINESE PRESIDENT SAID HE HOPES THE
UNITED STATES WILL ADHERE TO COMMITMENTS ON TAIWAN.
AT THE VERY LEAST, THE CHINESE WANTED MR. CLINTON TO MAKE A 
PUBLIC PLEDGE THAT THE UNITED STATES ONLY RECOGNIZES ONE CHINA; 
WILL NOT SUPPORT TAIWAN'S INDEPENDENCE;  AND WILL NOT BACK THE 
ISLAND'S MEMBERSHIP IN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS.
MR. CLINTON WOULD ONLY SAY WASHINGTON CONTINUES TO BACK A  
ONE-CHINA POLICY AND CALLED ON BOTH CHINA AND TAIWAN TO SIT DOWN 
AND TALK TO EACH OTHER.
       /////CLINTON ACTUALITY/////
  I REAFFIRMED OUR LONGSTANDING ONE-CHINA POLICY TO PRESIDENT 
JIANG AND URGED THE PURSUIT OF CROSS-STRAIT DISCUSSIONS RECENTLY 
RESUMED AS THE BEST PATH TO A PEACEFUL RESOLUTION.
       /////END ACTUALITY/////
BOTH SIDES HAVE INDICATED THEY ARE READY TO RESUME TALKS 
SUSPENDED AFTER CHINA FIRED MISSILES NEAR TAIWAN TWO YEARS AGO. 
BUT TAIWAN ONLY WANTS TO TALK ABOUT SUCH ISSUES AS FISHING 
RIGHTS,  WHEREAS BEIJING INSISTS ON TALKS ABOUT REUNIFICATION.  
(SIGNED)
NEB / RW / CB /  WD  
27-Jun-98 5:06 AM EDT (0906 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.