DATE=11/19/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=BUSH SPEECH (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=256382
BYLINE=ALISHA RYU
DATELINE=LOS ANGELES
CONTENT=
Intro: The Republican U.S. presidential front-runner
George W. Bush layed out his foreign policy visions
for the first time in a speech in California Friday.
V-O-A's Alisha Ryu in our West Coast Bureau reports
Mr. Bush advocates stronger ties with U-S allies and a
tougher stand against China and Russia.
Text: Appearing cool and confident, Mr. Bush
repeatedly called on Americans to reject isolationism,
saying a U-S retreat from global affairs would create
what he called "a short cut to chaos".
// First Bush Act //
It is an approach that abandons our allies and
our ideals. The vacuum left by an American
retreat would invite challenges to our power and
the result in the long run would be a stagnant
America in a savage world.
// End Act //
The Texas governor says strengthening U-S defense
would be his first objective. To counter what he
said was Russia's inability to keep track of its
nuclear stockpile, Mr. Bush says the United States
should develop and deploy missile defense systems.
He says he would encourage more U-S aid to help Russia
dismantle its nuclear weapons and to reform its
battered economy. But he warned Russia it could find
itself financially cutoff, if Russian forces continue
to pound at civilian targets in the breakaway region
of Chechnya.
// Second Bush Act //
Even as we support Russian reforms, we cannot
excuse Russia's brutality. When the Russian
government attacks civilians, killing women and
children, it can no longer expect aid from
international lending institutions.
// End Act //
The Republican hopeful had even stronger words for
China. Mr. Bush says he wants to work with Beijing to
strengthen trade ties and to promote peace on the
Korean peninsula. But calling China's military build-
ups "alarming" and its domestic conduct "appalling",
Mr. Bush says,as president, he would deter any Chinese
aggression in the region and protect Taiwan.
// Third Bush Act //
China is a competitor, not a strategic partner.
We must deal with China without ill will but
without illusions. If I am president, China
will find itself respected as a great power, but
in a region of strong democratic alliances. It
will be unthreatened but not unchecked. We do
not deny there is one China. But we deny the
right of Beijing to impose their rule on a free
people.
// End Act //
Mr. Bush also gave a detailed rundown of his other
foreign policy priorities, including his pledge to
advance peace in the Middle East based on a secure
Israel and to promote global free trade.
Friday's address was seen as a test of Mr. Bush's
knowledge of global affairs. Two weeks ago during a
press briefing, he flunked a reporter's challenge to
name the leaders of several important countries.
Mr. Bush says he will be outlining more foreign policy
visions in the future, emphasizing the Middle East and
relationships with U-S neighbors in Canada, Mexico and
Latin America. (Signed)
19-Nov-1999 19:07 PM EDT (20-Nov-1999 0007 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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