DATE=7/10/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-235297
TITLE=U-S / TAIWAN (L)
BYLINE=DEBORAH TATE
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE U-S SENATE HAS VOTED (92-0) TO REAFFIRM U-S SUPPORT
FOR TAIWAN -- A MOVE REPUBLICAN CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS SAY IS IN
RESPONSE TO PRESIDENT CLINTON'S COMMENTS LAST WEEK IN CHINA ABOUT
THE NATIONALIST-CONTROLLED ISLAND. THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION
SAYS POLITICS IS BEHIND THE MEASURE. V-O-A'S DEBORAH TATE
REPORTS.
TEXT: THE NON-BINDING RESOLUTION CALLS ON MR. CLINTON TO SEEK
CHINA'S RENUNCIATION OF THE USE OF FORCE AGAINST TAIWAN, TO
REAFFIRM THE 1979 TAIWAN RELATIONS ACT AND TO ASSURE TAIWAN THERE
HAS BEEN NO DATE SET FOR AN END TO ARMS SALES.
SENATE MAJORITY LEADER TRENT LOTT ACCUSED MR. CLINTON OF SHIFTING
POLICY TOWARD TAIWAN BY PUBLICLY EMPHASIZING U-S OPPOSITION TO
INDEPENDENCE FOR THE ISLAND, ITS MEMBERSHIP IN INTERNATIONAL
ORGANIZATIONS, AND THE CONCEPT OF "TWO CHINA'S".
// LOTT ACTUALITY //
CHINESE OFFICIALS UNDERSTAND WHAT CLINTON OFFICIALS
DENY: THE PRESIDENT'S REMARKS WERE A MAJOR VICTORY FOR
BEIJING AND MAJOR BLOW TO DEMOCRATIC TAIWAN.
// END ACT //
MR. CLINTON'S COMMENTS -- MADE DURING A MEETING WITH COMMUNITY
LEADERS IN SHANGHAI LAST WEEK -- DID PROMPT AN ANGRY RESPONSE
FROM TAIPEI, AND A WARM ONE FROM BEIJING, WHICH CONSIDERS TAIWAN
A RENEGADE PROVINCE.
BUT WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN MIKE MCCURRY SAYS THE PRESIDENT'S
REMARKS DID NOT REPRESENT A DEPARTURE FROM ESTABLISHED U-S POLICY
TOWARD TAIWAN.
HE SAYS HE BELIEVES POLITICS WAS BEHIND THE SENATE VOTE.
// MCCURRY ACTUALITY //
MY STRONG SUSPICION IS THAT THE REMARKS OF SENATOR LOTT
ARE ONCE AGAIN AN EFFORT BY REPUBLICAN LEADERS TO LOOK
FOR THE DARK LINING IN THE SILVER CLOUD. IT IS ANOTHER
ATTEMPT TO TAKE WHAT WAS WIDELY HELD AS A SUCCESSFUL
TRIP BY THE PRESIDENT, POLITICIZE THE RESULTS, AND TURN
IT INTO SOMETHING IT WAS NOT.
// END ACT //
THE TAIWAN RELATIONS ACT, ALONG WITH THREE COMMUNIQUES, SPELL OUT
U-S POLICY RECOGNIZING BEIJING AS THE SOLE LEGITIMIATE GOVERNMENT
OF CHINA. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAT/PT
10-Jul-98 5:51 PM EDT (2151 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
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