DATE=2/29/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-S / CHINA / TAIWAN (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-259653
BYLINE=ROGER WILKISON
DATELINE=BEIJING
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:

INTRO:  The commander of U-S Pacific forces, Admiral 
Dennis Blair, has met with senior Chinese military 
leaders to express Washington's concern about 
Beijing's most recent threats to attack Taiwan.  But 
he has run up against China's insistence that it will 
never renounce the use of force in dealing with 
Taiwan, and its demand that Washington stop weapons 
sales to what the mainland considers a renegade 
province.  V-O-A correspondent Roger Wilkison reports 
from the Chinese capital.

TEXT:  Admiral Blair is on a five-day visit to China, 
as part of recently-renewed contacts between the U-S 
and Chinese armed forces.  His trip was scheduled 
before China said last week that it might have to use 
force if Taiwan drags its feet on beginning 
reunification talks with the mainland.  The 
possibility of new cross-strait tensions ahead of 
Taiwan's presidential election next month is stirring 
up a storm in Washington.

China says the Taiwan question is the most sensitive 
issue in Sino - U-S relations.  Foreign Ministry 
spokesman Zhu Bangzao, speaking through an 
interpreter, says Beijing regards any expression of 
U-S concern about Taiwan as an intervention in China's 
own affairs.

              /// 1st INTERPRETER ACT ///

      Taiwan is an integral part of Chinese territory.  
      The question of Taiwan is purely China's 
      internal affair, and no foreign country has the 
      right to interfere.

                    /// END ACT ///

Mr. Zhu says China wants the United States to honor 
its commitment, under a 1982 joint communique, to 
gradually reduce and eventually halt arms sales to the 
island.

             /// 2nd INTERPRETER ACT ///

      We strongly urge the U-S side to abide by its 
      commitments, without doing anything that will 
      give rise to tension across the Taiwan Strait, 
      and anything that will obstruct the peaceful 
      reunification of China.

                   /// END ACT ///

Under the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act, the United States 
is obliged to provide weapons to the island for its 
own defense.  China's latest threat to use force 
against Taiwan has strengthened pro-Taiwan lawmakers 
in Washington, who want to bolster military ties 
between the United States and the island.  That 
possibility has also aroused Beijing's ire.

Reunification with Taiwan is a sacred cause for the 
Chinese government.  Mr. Zhu stresses that it will be 
achieved through whatever means are necessary.

             /// 3rd INTERPRETER ACT ///

      The Chinese government is always committed to 
      the solution of the question of Taiwan through 
      peaceful reunification and "one country, two 
      systems."  But we will never renounce the use of 
      force.

                  /// END ACT ///

China's official Xinhua news agency reports that same 
message was delivered to Admiral Blair by Chinese 
Defense Minister Chi Haotian.

U-S officials say the Clinton administration is 
especially worried that China's stepped-up rhetoric 
against Taiwan could sabotage efforts to get Congress 
to pass legislation granting China permanent normal 
trading rights in the United States.  But Mr. Zhu says 
the two issues are separate and should not be linked.

            /// 4th INTERPRETER ACT ///

We are resolutely opposed to link[ing] these two 
questions up.  We believe all U-S congressmen with 
vision will support permanent N-T-R [normal trade 
relations] for China.

                   /// END ACT ///

Admiral Blair will fly on Wednesday to Nanjing, where 
the regional command that would form the bulk of any 
Chinese attack on Taiwan is based.  (Signed)

NEB/RW/FC/WTW



29-Feb-2000 06:48 AM EDT (29-Feb-2000 1148 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.