DATE=5/27/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-249857
TITLE=CHINA / U-S RELATIONS (L-ONLY) 
BYLINE=CHRIS SIMKINS
DATELINE=HONG KONG
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO: RELATIONS BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND CHINA HAVE SHARPLY
DETERIORATED SINCE NATO'S MISTAKEN BOMBING OF THE CHINESE EMBASSY
IN BELGRADE AND THE ALLEGATIONS FROM WASHINGTON ABOUT CHINESE 
SPYING.  BUT DESPITE INCREASED TENSIONS, A LEADING PROPONENT OF 
SINO-AMERICAN PARTNERSHIP IS OPTIMISTIC ABOUT REBUILDING TIES 
BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES.  VOA HONG KONG CORRESPONDENT CHRIS SIMKINS
HAS MORE ON THE STORY.

TEXT: JOHN HOLDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL COMMITTEE ON U-S 
CHINA RELATIONS, SAYS MUCH WORK LIES AHEAD, IN ORDER TO REPAIR 
STRAINED TIES BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES.  IN A SPEECH TO THE 
AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN HONG KONG, MR. HOLDEN SAID  
REBUILDING THE RELATIONSHIP MUST START WITH THE UNITED STATES 
RESPONSE TO CHINESE ANGER AT THE EMBASSY BOMBING

                       /// HOLDEN ACT ///

         FIRST OF ALL THE UNITED STATES SHOULD COMPENSATE CHINA 
         FOR THE BOMBING. CHINA SHOULD EXPECT AND DEMAND A 
         THOROUGH INVESTIGATION, BUT REALIZE THAT THERE IS  NO 
         WAY TO PROVE THAT A CONSPIRACY OF SOME SORT DID NOT 
         HAPPEN.  CHINA MUST EXAMINE CAREFULLY WHETHER AN ATTACK 
         ON THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN BELGRADE SERVED AMERICAN 
         INTEREST OR NOT.  IF IT DID NOT, WHICH I THINK SHOULD BE
         OBVIOUS, THEN CHINA SHOULD APPROVE THE RESULTS OF THE 
         INVESTIGATION , ACCEPT AMERICA'S APOLOGIES AND MOVE 
         FORWARD. 

                        /// END ACT ///  

MR. HOLDEN SAYS IF CHINA IS UNWILLING TO DO SO, IT WILL ONLY 
FURTHER WEAKEN WHATEVER FRAGILE TRUST REMAINS ON BOTH SIDES.  BUT
HE SAYS OTHER THINGS MUST BE DONE TO MEND DAMAGED SINO AMERICAN 
RELATIONS.      

                       /// HOLDEN ACT ///

         TODAY, THE MOST URGENT NEED IS FOR DAMAGE CONTROL. WHEN 
         THIS IS FINISHED, BOTH COUNTRIES SHOULD INVENTORY THEIR 
         SHARED INTERESTS, IDENTIFY WHERE THEIR INTERESTS 
         DIVERGE, TAKE NOTE OF THE CONSTRAINTS, WORK HARD TO 
         COMMUNICATE AND REBUILD TRUST BY WORKING TOGETHER AND 
         LISTENING TO ONE ANOTHER.

                        /// END ACT /// 

MR. HOLDEN SAYS IF CHINA AND THE UNITED STATES FAIL IN MEETING 
THE CHALLENGES OF REBUILDING A COOPERATIVE RELATIONSHIP, THE 
POSSIBILITY EXISTS OF AN ARMS RACE IN ASIA AND DIMINISHED 
SECURITY.  (SIGNED)

NEB/CS/FC/KL

27-May-99 6:49 AM EDT (1049 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.