DATE=12/8/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CLINTON-CHINA-TAIWAN (L-ONLY) CQ
NUMBER=2-256984
BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: President Clinton has made a new appeal to
China and Taiwan to avoid violent actions and resolve
their differences through dialogue. The appeal comes
in the face of what he says has been an "unnecessary
and counterproductive" increase in tension across the
Taiwan straits. V-O-A's David Gollust reports from the
White House.
TEXT: Mr. Clinton has reiterated his support for the
one-China approach that has governed U-S policy since
the normalization of ties with Beijing more than two
decades ago. But he is also urging the parties to
avoid any resort to violence to resolve a problem he
insists can be peacefully settled over time as their
economies become intertwined.
The President made the appeal at a news conference
here under questioning about a newspaper report that
China is building a second short-range missile base
near Taiwan that would significantly increase its
ability to strike the island's major military bases.
Mr. Clinton declined specific comment on the
Washington Times report, other than to say that China
is modernizing its military in a number of ways --
and to caution both sides against any "rash" moves:
/// FIRST CLINTON ACT ///
Our policy on China is crystal-clear. We believe
there is one China. We think it has to be
resolved through cross-strait dialogues. And we
oppose and would view with grave concern any
kind of violent action. And that hasn't changed.
And you know. There has been a lot of build up
of tension on both sides that I think is
unnecessary and counterproductive.
/// END ACT ///
Mr. Clinton said those concerned are aware of what he
has done in the past - an apparent reference to his
dispatch of U-S aircraft carriers to the straits in
1996 amid a crisis over Chinese missile tests near
Taiwanese ports.
In his wide-ranging talk with reporters, Mr. Clinton
also again dismissed Republican suggestions that a
Hong Kong shipping company's operation of port
facilities at each end of the Panama Canal will
threaten U-S security.
The President re-ignited a controversy last week with
remarks in which he appeared to accept the notion that
China will control the waterway when the United States
departs at the end of the month under the Panama canal
treaties. He acknowledged to reporters here that he
had mis-spoken:
/// SECOND CLINTON ACTUALITY ///
The canal itself will be operated and controlled
entirely by the government of Panama through the
Panama Canal Authority. This is, the locks,
ingress and egress, access, open-ness. - the
canal is completely and totally within the
control of the Panamanians. Now, the Hong Kong
company which got the concession to operate the
ports will be responsible for loading and
unloading ships.
/// END ACT ///
Mr. Clinton said the Hong Kong company - Hutchison-
Whampoa - also manages several ports in Britain. He
said its managing director is British, most of its
employees will be Panamanian, and said he feels
"comfortable" that U-S commercial and security
interests will be protected under the arrangement.
A number of Congressional Republicans have charged
that the Hong Kong firm is under Chinese military
influence, and that the port deals would put China in
a position to prevent U-S navy ships from using the
canal in a future emergency. (Signed)
NEB/DAG/TVM/gm
08-Dec-1999 19:46 PM EDT (09-Dec-1999 0046 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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