DATE=3/29/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CLINTON-CHINA (L)
NUMBER=2-260752
BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: President Clinton has urged China and Taiwan
to renew their political dialogue in the aftermath of
the Taiwanese presidential election March 18th won by
the Democratic Progressive Party's Chen Shui-bian. At
his news conference Wednesday, the President also
renewed his appeal to Congress to grant China
permanent, normal trade status. VOA's David Gollust
reports from the White House.
TEXT: The party of Taiwanese president-elect Chen has
supported independence for the island. But since the
election, talk of independence has been shelved, the
Taiwanese parliament has made conciliatory gestures
towards the mainland, and the tensions that preceded
the election have eased. At his news conference, Mr.
Clinton spoke approvingly of the turn of events and
urged the two sides renew political discussions,
saying neither China nor Taiwan needs a political
crisis:
/// CLINTON ACTUALITY ///
I've been very impressed by the president-elect
in Taiwan and the way he's handled this since
his election, what he's had to say. He seems to
be quite well-aware of the weighty
responsibility he now has and the great
opportunity he has. And so, this is a big issue.
They need to get together, start their dialogue
again and figure out where to go from here.
/// END ACT ///
Asked if there were any circumstances under which he
could support Taiwanese independence, Mr. Clinton said
a one-China policy has been the "unanimous and
bipartisan" position of every U-S administration since
relations with Beijing were normalized in 1979, and
that abandoning would create a critical situation.
Citing what he termed "enormous" Taiwanese investments
on the mainland, he said they have much to gain from
each other and if they keep talking they will find a
way to work out their problems.
Mr. Clinton coupled his remarks with another appeal
for Congressional approval of permanent normal trading
status for China. Mr. Clinton said all the benefits of
the trade legislation - a pre-requisite for Chinese
membership in the World Trade Organization - would go
to the United States. And he reiterated his view that
accession to the WTO will inevitably mean a more open
Chinese society:
/// CLINTON ACT ///
This decision they've made to join the WTO is a
decision, basically to modernize China in ways
that will go far beyond the economy. When you
get all this telecommunications revolution
permanently manifested in China, they will not
be able to control the Internet, they will be
able to control access to information, they will
not be able to control freedom of expression. It
will become a more free country and a more open
country. And that is a very, very good thing.
/// END ACT ///
Mr. Clinton listed the China trade bill as among his
top legislative priorities for this year.
Congressional supporters of the measure are hoping for
final Senate and House votes by May - fearing the
measure will fall victim to election-year politics if
action is delayed much beyond then. (Signed)
NEB/DAG/TVM/PT
29-Mar-2000 17:58 PM EDT (29-Mar-2000 2258 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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