DATE=1/27/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-S - CHINA (L)
NUMBER=2-258506
BYLINE=JIM RANDLE
DATELINE=PENTAGON
CONTENT=

VOICED AT: 


INTRO:  U-S Defense Secretary William Cohen says China 
has invited him to visit in the next few months, 
marking the apparent end to a serious strain in 
relations between Washington and Beijing. The 
invitation follows several days of talks at the 
Pentagon between senior officials from China and the 
United States. V-O-A's Jim Randle reports.


TEXT:  The three days of meetings brought a top 
Chinese general, Xiong Guangkai, (Prono: shiung guang 
kai) face-to-face with ranking U-S officials, 
including Defense Secretary William Cohen.  

            /// COHEN ACT ///

      I thought it was a very good meeting and we are 
      on track to get military-to-military relations 
      back at a normal state of affairs.

            /// END ACT ///

Mr. Cohen says when he gets to Beijing, he will invite 
Chinese Defense Minister Chi Haotian (prono: shur hao 
tian) to visit Washington.  

Such visits were abruptly cancelled last year when 
American bombers killed three people and injured 
dozens more in an accidental attack on the Chinese 
embassy compound in Yugoslavia.

This week's talks were hosted by Undersecretary of 
Defense Walter Slocombe, who called them `intense' but 
`cordial.'  

He says China and the United States still have strong 
differences of opinion on many issues, including the 
status of Taiwan.  China regards the island as a 
rebellious province, while the United States is 
pledged to help protect Taiwan through arms sales and 
other means.

China has threatened to use military force against 
Taiwan if the island declares independence, and has 
been building up missile forces along the coast facing 
Taiwan. 

China objects to U-S arms sales to Taiwan, but Mr. 
Slocombe says if Beijing made fewer threats, 
Washington would fell less pressure to sell weapons.  

            /// SLOCOMBE ACT ///

      One of the factors in our decisions about arms 
      sales to Taiwan, is the state of the Chinese 
      threat to Taiwan.

            /// END ACT ///

Mr. Slocombe says tensions between Taiwan and Beijing 
have grown over the past few months.  He says 
Washington is urging both sides to tone down rhetoric 
and military activity as Taiwan prepares for elections 
in March. (Signed)

NEB/JR/TVM/gm



27-Jan-2000 18:38 PM EDT (27-Jan-2000 2338 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.