DATE=7/2/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-234884
TITLE=CHINA / U-S / TAIWAN (L ONLY)
BYLINE=ROGER WILKISON
DATELINE=BEIJING
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: CHINA IS CRITICIZING THE UNITED STATES FOR RESTATING ITS
INTENTION TO SELL ARMS TO TAIWAN, DESPITE WHAT BEIJING SAYS ARE
U-S COMMITMENTS TO REDUCE AND EVENTUALLY HALT SUCH SALES. V-O-A
CORRESPONDENT ROGER WILKISON REPORTS THE CHINESE FOREIGN
MINISTRY SAYS IT REGARDS WEAPONS SALES TO TAIWAN AS INTERFERENCE
IN CHINA'S INTERNAL AFFAIRS.
TEXT: THE CHINESE ARE REACTING TO A STATEMENT WEDNESDAY BY U-S
DEPUTY NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER JAMES STEINBERG. MR. STEINBERG
TOLD REPORTERS ACCOMPANYING PRESIDENT CLINTON ON HIS STATE VISIT
TO CHINA, THAT WASHINGTON WILL CONTINUE TO SELL ARMS TO TAIWAN
DESPITE BEIJING'S OBJECTIONS.
THAT STATEMENT CAME A DAY AFTER MR. CLINTON EXPLICITLY REAFFIRMED
A U-S COMMITMENT TO ONE CHINA, RULED FROM BEIJING AND OPPOSITION
TO INDEPENDENCE FOR TAIWAN. MR. CLINTON ALSO SAID WASHINGTON
OPPOSES TAIWANESE MEMBERSHIP IN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS.
CHINA HAD BEEN PRESSING THE UNITED STATES FOR SUCH A
REAFFIRMATION OF U-S POLICY ON TAIWAN, WHICH BEIJING CONSIDERS TO
BE THE CORE ISSUE IN SINO/U-S RELATIONS. IT SAYS U-S ARMS SALES
TO THE ISLAND VIOLATE THREE SINO/U-S AGREEMENTS, UNDER WHICH
WASHINGTON PROMISES TO SLOWLY END SUCH TRANSFERS. BUT MR.
STEINBERG INDICATED THAT BEIJING -- WHICH HAS NOT RULED OUT THE
USE OF FORCE TO CAPTURE TAIWAN -- SHOULD LIVE UP TO ITS PROMISES
THAT IT IS COMMITTED TO A PEACEFUL RESOLUTION OF THE ISSUE.
CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN TANG GUOQIANG -- SPEAKING
THROUGH AN INTERPRETER -- SAID THE ARMS SALES INTERFERE WITH
BEIJING'S SOVEREIGNTY OVER THE ISLAND.
/////INTERPRETER ACTUALITY/////
TAIWAN IS AN INTERNAL AFFAIR OF CHINA, WHICH TOLERATES NO
FOREIGN INTERFERENCE. SO THE SALES OF ARMS TO TAIWAN BY FOREIGN
COUNTRIES IS INTERFERENCE IN CHINA'S INTERNAL AFFAIRS.
/////END ACTUALITY/////
MR. TANG SAYS CHINA HOPES THAT THE UNITED STATES WILL HONOR ITS
COMMITMENTS UNDER THE THREE AGREEMENTS. HE ALSO DENOUNCED THE
TAIWAN RELATIONS ACT, A 1979 LAW THAT OBLIGES WASHINGTON TO
SUPPLY ARMS TO THE ISLAND FOR ITS DEFENSE, AS BEING INCONSISTENT
WITH ITS PLEDGES TO STOP SUCH TRANSFERS. THE SPOKESMAN CALLED ON
TAIWAN TO ENTER INTO POLITICAL NEGOTIATIONS, AIMED AT REUNIFYING
THE ISLAND WITH CHINA, AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
TAIWAN PRESIDENT LEE TENG-HUI SAYS HE IS GRATEFUL TO WASHINGTON
FOR KEEPING ITS PROMISE TO ARM THE ISLAND. BUT MR. LEE'S EFFORTS
TO GIVE TAIWAN A HIGHER DIPLOMATIC PROFILE HAVE BEEN SET BACK BY
THE U-S PLEDGE NOT TO SUPPORT TAIWANESE MEMBERSHIP IN
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS. (SIGNED)
NEB/RW/FC
02-Jul-98 7:06 AM EDT (1106 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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