DATE=3/9/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=COHEN / TAIWAN - L ONLY
NUMBER=2-260039
BYLINE=JIM RANDLE
DATELINE=KADENA AIR FORCE BASE, JAPAN
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
/// Eds: filed from a refueling stop at Kadena Air
Force Base, in Japan en route to Hong Kong///
INTRO: U-S Defense Secretary William Cohen says the
current tensions between Taiwan and China are not
likely to escalate into major military actions. Mr.
Cohen spoke to reporters on a flight to Hong Kong, at
the start of a 10-day four, nation Asian trip. V-O-
A's Jim Randle reports.
TEXT: Mr. Cohen says the level of rhetorical tension
between Taiwan and China is rising as Taiwan's
elections draw closer [Eds: March 18]. He says it is
vital for the two sides to try to work out their
differences in an atmosphere of accommodation rather
than one of intimidation.
/// COHEN ACT ///
The best thing for all parties to do, is to
reduce the rhetoric on both sides of the
[Taiwan] straits. The Chinese should lower the
rhetoric as well as the Taiwanese
candidates talking about independence.
/// END ACT ///
China regards Taiwan as a renegade province which
should be brought under central government control.
/// OPT /// When Communist forces won the Chinese
civil war in 1949, Nationalist forces retreated to
Taiwan. /// END OPT ///
China's government says if Taiwan formally declares
independence or makes clear the island has no
intention of ever reuniting with the mainland, Beijing
will take military action.
During the last election campaign on Taiwan four years
ago, China fired missiles into waters near the island,
trying to intimidate independence-minded voters. U-S
Military sources say China had hundreds of ballistic
missiles back then, and has been adding new ones at
the rate of 50 per year.
Taiwan has asked Washington to sell it advanced
weapons to counter the missile threat, but Mr. Cohen
says no U-S decision on the request for advanced
radars, ships and missiles is likely before the
election on Taiwan.
/// REST OPT ///
The first formal stop on Mr. Cohen's Asian trip is in
Hong Kong, where he is set to meet with Chief
Executive Tung Chee-hua, Chief Secretary Anson Chan,
and other top officials Saturday.
Mr. Cohen says they will review Hong Kong's economic
situation, continued visits to the port city by U-S
warships and Washington's desire for strong controls
to prevent smuggling of weapons technology, drugs or
other contraband in the huge volume of commerce that
passes through Hong Kong.
Monday, Mr. Cohen heads for Vietnam, the first U-S
Defense chief to travel to that former enemy since
American forces and their South Vietnamese allies lost
the war a quarter of a century ago.
Mr. Cohen will meet with business leaders in Ho Chi
Minh City, and with top Vietnamese officials in Hanoi.
He later travels to Tokyo for a meeting with the
Japanese Prime Minister, and Seoul for talks with
Korea's president and other officials. (signed)
NEB/JR/JO
09-Mar-2000 16:39 PM EDT (09-Mar-2000 2139 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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