DATE=3/21/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CHINA - U-S - TAIWAN (L-O)
NUMBER=2-260417
BYLINE=STEPHANIE MANN
DATELINE=BEIJING
INTERNET=YES
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:


INTRO:  The United States is urging China and Taiwan 
to resolve their differences peacefully and resume 
negotiations.  Correspondent Stephanie Mann reports a 
senior U-S diplomat brought that message to Chinese 
leaders in Beijing.

TEXT:  U-S Ambassador to the United Nations Richard 
Holbrooke met (throughout the day Tuesday) with 
Chinese President Jiang Zemin, Vice Premier Qian 
Qichen, and Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan.  The Taiwan 
issue figured prominently in their talks. 

Ambassador Holbrooke's visit comes on the heels of 
Saturday's Taiwan presidential election.  Although the 
original purpose of the mission was to discuss U-N 
issues, it is being used to exchange views on the 
situation across the Taiwan Straits. 

The official Xinhua news agency reports President 
Jiang told Mr. Holbrooke the reunification of Taiwan 
with mainland China is conducive to the healthy 
development of Sino-American relations.  He said the 
Taiwan issue is an internal Chinese matter.  He added 
that the leaders across the Taiwan Straits can hold 
talks, but a pre-requisite for those talks is the one-
China principle. 

China considers Taiwan a renegade province and wants 
it reunited with the mainland under the formula of 
"one-country, two-systems" that was used for Hong 
Kong's return to Chinese rule. 

Before meeting President Jiang, Ambassador Holbrooke 
said he was bringing a message from President Clinton 
- and the Chinese leader said he had a letter to send 
back to Mr. Clinton. 

Mr. Holbrooke said his talks with Foreign Minister 
Tang Jiaxuan were excellent, and he called the Chinese 
position very constructive.  He says he repeated U-S 
support for Beijing's stand that Taiwan is a part of 
China, and he urged Beijing and Taipei to resume 
peaceful negotiations. 

The Xinhua news agency reports Foreign Minister Tang 
said the United States should recognize the 
sensitivity and complexity of the Taiwan issue.  Mr. 
Tang also said the United States should abide by its 
commitments - including three joint communiques signed 
with Beijing and its agreement not to support Taiwan's 
independence. 

Mr. Holbrooke is the first of four senior U-S 
officials scheduled to visit Beijing in the coming 
weeks.  National Security Adviser Sandy Berger plans 
to visit the Chinese capital next week, and the 
Commerce and Agriculture Secretaries are expected in 
April.  

Meanwhile, former Congressman Lee Hamilton is making a 
visit to Taipei this week.  He is expected to urge 
Taiwan's new leaders to resume a dialogue with 
Beijing. 

The Taiwan issue has been a constant irritant in 
relations between Washington and Beijing.  The United 
States changed its diplomatic recognition from the 
government in Taipei to the government in Beijing in 
1979, but Washington maintains unofficial relations 
with Taiwan. 

U-S policy is bound by the bilateral communiques it 
has signed with Beijing, as well as a U-S law that 
requires the United States to provide defensive 
weapons to Taiwan. 

At the regular Foreign Ministry briefing, the 
spokesman was asked what kind of role the United 
States could play in promoting cross-Straits 
relations.  The Chinese spokesman replied that the 
United States should adhere to the commitments it has 
made to Beijing and stop its arms sales to Taiwan.   
(SIGNED)

NEB/SMN/RAE 



21-Mar-2000 09:01 AM EDT (21-Mar-2000 1401 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.