DATE=5/18/2000
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
TITLE=TAIWAN - CHINA - U-S
NUMBER=5-46343
BYLINE=STEPHANIE MANN
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: China has emphatically denied a U-S newspaper
report (Washington Post) that says Beijing has asked
the United States to mediate in its relationship with
Taiwan. American China analysts say the United States
has no desire to do so, but they say Washington can
continue to play a back-seat role, as correspondent
Stephanie Mann reports.
TEXT: Until 1979, the United States recognized the
government on Taiwan as the legitimate government of
China. After Washington switched its diplomatic
recognition from Taipei to Beijing, the U-S Congress
passed a law -- the Taiwan Relations Act -- to ensure
continued U-S support for Taiwan's defense.
The United States holds the position that resolution
of the Taiwan-China question is a matter for the two
sides to handle. China specialist at the Washington-
based Institute for National Strategic Studies, Ronald
Montaperto, says that position has not changed. And
Mr. Montaperto says he doubts if U-S mediation would
be effective.
/// MONTAPERTO ACT ONE ///
We would have to see a lot more goodwill from
both sides and a lot more reasonableness -- from
Beijing in particular, but really both sides,
before we could be expected to play a useful
role in that respect.
/// END ACT ///
Nevertheless, Mr. Montaperto says the United States
can play a role it has played all along -- talking
with both sides, putting forward proposals, and
passing along messages.
The director of the Asian Studies Center at the
Heritage Foundation in Washington, Larry Wortzel,
agrees the United States should not mediate the
Taiwan-China question. But he adds that Beijing needs
to understand that its actions on the issue will
influence U-S policy. Mr. Wortzel points to two
measures pending in the U-S Congress that could end up
going against Beijing's interests, if China acts
belligerently toward Taiwan.
/// WORTZEL ACT ///
Beijing, in a sense, holds the future fate in
its own hands. If it conducts the sorts of
military exercises and missile firings that it
did in 1996, it will probably ensure the passage
of the Taiwan Security Enhancement Act. And, if
it does it early, it could hurt the passage of
permanent normal trade relations.
/// END ACT ///
Next week, the House of Representatives plans to vote
on whether to grant China permanent favorable trade
treatment. Another pending piece of legislation, the
Taiwan Security Enhancement Act, would strengthen U-S
military links to Taiwan.
Former U-S Ambassador to China, James Lilley, says the
Congress will be more inclined to vote in China's
favor if it foregoes the military option against
Taiwan. Mr. Lilley, now with the Washington-based
American Enterprise Institute, says China should keep
an eye on Taiwan's planned legislative elections in
2001 and foster the burgeoning economic relationship
across the Strait. He says that would be more
beneficial to all.
/// LILLEY ACT ///
I think you could make a case to Beijing that
you really ought to worry more about the ballot
box in Taiwan and use your influence there,
rather than make it come out of the barrel of a
gun, which usually is counterproductive. ... And
if they go this military route and use it, then
it kicks in with (EDS: causes reactions in) the
United States -- the Taiwan Security Enhancement
Act, theater missile defense -- things Beijing
finds anathema. If you go to military means,
this is what comes back at you. If you mute
this, it seems to me you have a much better
chance of influencing the Taiwan electorate.
/// END ACT ///
Mr. Lilley says Beijing hard-liners who want to
discredit Taiwan's new president, Chen Shui-bian, may
find such an approach backfires against Beijing.
Ronald Montaperto says members of Congress feel the
United States has a moral obligation to help maintain
Taiwan's security.
/// MONTAPERTO ACT TWO ///
On the one hand, there is the need to do what is
perceived to be our duty toward Taiwan. On the
other hand, we need to manage this issue -- to
manage U-S-China relations and U-S-Taiwan
relations in ways that continue to promote
stability and order and peace.
/// END ACT ///
When Mr. Chen makes his presidential inaugural address
Saturday, the United States will be watching to see
what he says on the China-Taiwan issue. But just as
important to policymakers and lawmakers in Washington
will be Beijing's reaction to the speech. (Signed)
NEB/SMN/JP
18-May-2000 11:37 AM EDT (18-May-2000 1537 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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