DATE=5/16/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-S MILITARY / TAIWAN (CQ)
NUMBER=2-262417
BYLINE=GRACE CUTLER
DATELINE=HONG KONG
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The commander of the United States Pacific
Fleet says U-S naval activity will not be increased in
advance of Saturday's inauguration of Taiwan's
controversial new president. Grace Cutler reports
Admiral Fargo addressed security concerns as relations
between Beijing and Taipei deteriorate over the "one
China" policy.
TEXT: Admiral Thomas Fargo, on a visit to Hong Kong,
says waters between Taiwan and the People's Republic
of China are quiet and there are no signs of any
impending military activity.
/// FARGO ACT ONE///
I don't see P-R-C forces arrayed in any
particularly threatening manner. I certainly
don't see Taiwanese forces arrayed with any
concern. And I would tell you that our won
deployments are very normal right now.
/// END ACT ///
This stands in sharp contrast to Taiwanese
presidential elections four years ago, when China
test-fired missiles in the Taiwan Strait. The United
States responded by sending ships prepared to defend
the island against the mainland and the situation was
diffused.
Although China lobbed only verbal threats during
Taiwan's elections this year, security across the
strait remains tense. China sees Taiwan as a renegade
province and wants to see the island reunited with the
mainland - by forced if necessary.
President-elect Chen Shui-bian's Democratic
Progressive Party's has strong pro-independence
leanings. Security analysts say Beijing might respond
harshly if Mr. Chen does not sufficiently endorse the
"one China" policy in his inauguration speech.
But Admiral Fargo says a Chinese military response is
unlikely and the U-S military isn't preparing for one
at this point.
/// FARGO ACT TWO ///
This has to be resolved via dialogue, via the
kind of constructive discussions that reduce the
cross strait tensions.
/// END ACT ///
American naval officials say that currently none of
the 17 or so U-S ships normally assigned to the region
are deployed around the Taiwan Strait. The U-S ship
Kitty Hawk is scheduled to dock in Hong Kong sometime
next week. (Signed)
NEB/HK/GC/JO/KL
16-May-2000 09:14 AM EDT (16-May-2000 1314 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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