DATE=7/12/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-251679
TITLE=U-S/CHINA POLICY (L ONLY)
BYLINE=GIL BUTLER
DATELINE=STATE DEPARTMENT
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE UNITED STATES HAS REITERATED ITS "ONE-CHINA" POLICY
FOLLOWING DISAGREEMENTS BETWEEN TAIWAN AND CHINA OVER RECENT
REMARKS BY TAIWANESE PRESIDENT LEE TUNG HUI. V-O-A'S GIL BUTLER
REPORTS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT.
TEXT: ON SATURDAY, IN AN INTERVIEW WITH GERMAN RADIO, PRESIDENT
LEE SAID SINCE 1991 TAIWAN HAS REDEFINED ITS RELATIONS WITH ITS
LARGE NEIGHBOR ACROSS THE TAIWAN STRAIT. HE SAID -- IN HIS WORDS
-- IT IS NOW NATION-TO-NATION OR AT LEAST SPECIAL STATE-TO-STATE
RELATIONS. BECAUSE OF THAT, THERE IS NO LONGER ANY NEED TO
DECLARE TAIWAN INDEPENDENCE.
THE REMARKS WERE INTERPRETED BY SOME AS A SIGNIFICANT STEP AWAY
FROM A POLICY OF EVENTUAL REUNIFICATION WITH THE MAINLAND.
CHINA REACTED BY SAYING MR. LEE HAS TAKEN A STEP TOWARD PLAYING
WITH FIRE. BEIJING CONSIDERS TAIWAN A PROVINCE OF CHINA AND
ALWAYS ANGRILY REACTS TO ANYTHING THAT CONTRADICTS THAT STATUS.
AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT, SPOKESMAN JAMES FOLEY REFUSED TO COMMENT
DIRECTLY ON MR. LEE'S REMARKS BUT HE SAID U-S POLICY HAS NOT
CHANGED.
/// FOLEY ACT ///
I CAN ONLY SPEAK FOR THE UNITED STATES. OUR POLICY HAS
NOT CHANGED. OUR "ONE-CHINA" POLICY IS LONG-STANDING
AND CERTAINLY WELL-KNOWN. THE U-S POSITION ON TAIWAN'S
FUTURE IS ALSO CLEAR. WE BELIEVE THAT IT IS A MATTER
FOR THE CHINESE PEOPLE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE TAIWAN
STRAIT TO RESOLVE. THE UNITED STATES HAS AN ABIDING
INTEREST AND CONCERN THAT ANY SUCH RESOLUTION BE A
PEACEFUL ONE. AND TO THAT END, THE UNITED STATES URGES
BOTH SIDES TO ENGAGE IN MEANINGFUL, SUBSTANTIVE,
DIALOGUE.
/// END ACT ///
MR. FOLEY SAYS IT IS TOO EARLY TO SAY WHAT EFFECT MR. LEE'S
STATEMENT MAY HAVE ON RELATIONS BETWEEN CHINA AND TAIWAN.
(SIGNED)
NEB/MGB/AG/RRM
12-Jul-99 3:22 PM EDT (1922 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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