DATE=4/7/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-247771
TITLE=CLINTON CHINA OVERNIGHTER (L)
BYLINE=PAULA WOLFSON
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:   THE FLAGS OF CHINA AND THE UNITED STATES ARE FLYING 
OUTSIDE THE WHITE HOUSE, AS PRESIDENT CLINTON PREPARES FOR TALKS 
WITH CHINESE PREMIER ZHU RONGJI.  V-O-A'S PAULA WOLFSON REPORTS 
TODAY'S (THURSDAY'S) MEETING COMES AT A TIME OF CONTROVERSY AND 
INCREASING CRITICISM OF THE PRESIDENT'S CHINA POLICY.

TEXT:   PRESIDENT CLINTON OFFERED A DEFENSE OF THAT POLICY DURING
A SPEECH (WEDNESDAY) IN WASHINGTON.

                       /////CLINTON ACT///

     WE MUST BUILD ON OPPORTUNITIES FOR COOPERATION WITH CHINA 
WHERE  WE AGREE, EVEN AS WE STRONGLY DEFEND OUR INTERESTS AND 
VALUES WHERE  WE DISAGREE.  THAT IS THE PURPOSE OF ENGAGEMENT.

                        /////END ACT////

MR. CLINTON OUTLINED HIS VIEWS ON CHINA IN AN ADDRESS THAT, AT 
TIMES, SOUNDED LIKE A COLLEGE LECTURE.  HE TALKED ABOUT SOME OF 
THE CURRENT PROBLEMS IN SINO-AMERICAN RELATIONS - - SUCH AS 
ACCUSATIONS THE CHINESE STOLE SECRETS FROM A U-S WEAPONS 
LABORATORY.  BUT HE SAID AMERICANS MUST REMEMBER THAT CHINA IS A 
GIANT NATION IN THE MIDST OF CHANGE...AND THIS IS NO TIME FOR A 
POLICY OF ISOLATION.

                      /////CLINTON ACT//// 

    FOR THAT WOULD LEAVE THE PEOPLE OF CHINA WITH LESS ACCESS TO 
INFORMATION, LESS CONTACT WITH THE DEMOCRATIC WORLD, AND MORE 
RESISTANCE FROM THEIR GOVERNMENT TO OUTSIDE INFLUENCE AND IDEAS.

                         ////END ACT////

THERE ARE POLITICIANS IN THE UNITED STATES CALLING FOR A 'GET 
TOUGH' POLICY AGAINST BEIJING, INCLUDING SOME REPUBLICANS WHO ARE
PERSUING THEIR PARTY'S NEXT PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION.   MR.CLINTON
IS URGING THEM TO COOL THEIR RHETORIC, EVEN THOUGH HE USED CHINA 
AS AN ISSUE DURING HIS 1992 CAMPAIGN AGAINST THEN-PRESIDENT 
GEORGE BUSH.

                      ////CLINTON ACT//// 

    WE CANNOT ALLOW A HEALTHY ARGUMENT TO LEAD US TOWARD A 
CAMPAIGN- DRIVEN COLD WAR WITH CHINA; FOR THAT WOULD HAVE TRAGIC 
CONSEQUENCES: AN AMERICA RIVEN BY MISTRUST AND BITTER 
ACCUSATIONS; AN END TO DIPLOMATIC CONTACT THAT HAS PRODUCED 
TANGIBLE GAINS FOR OUR PEOPLE.

                       /////END ACT//////

EXPANDING TRADE IS EXPECTED TO BE A KEY TOPIC DURING THE 
CLINTON-ZHU MEETING.   WHITE HOUSE OFFICIALS SAY, OVERALL, A WIDE
RANGE OF ISSUES WILL BE DISCUSSED.   THEY SAY PRESIDENT CLINTON 
WILL BRING UP CHINESE OPPOSITION TO THE NATO OPERATION AGAINST 
YUGOSLAVIA, AS WELL AS CONTINUING CONCERNS OVER CHINA'S HUMAN 
RIGHTS RECORD.   BUT THESE OFFICIALS ARE DOWNPLAYING THE 
LIKELIHOOD OF EXTENSIVE DISCUSSIONS ON TWO CONTROVERSIAL MATTERS:
THE ALLEGATIONS OF ESPIONAGE AT THE LOS ALAMOS NUCLEAR WEAPONS 
LAB AND ACCUSATIONS CHINA TRIED TO FUNNEL MONEY INTO THE LAST U-S
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN. (SIGNED)


NEB/PW/PHW/PT

07-Apr-99 7:15 PM EDT (2315 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.