DATE=5/18/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CHINA TAIWAN (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-262513
BYLINE=LETA HONG FINCHER
DATELINE=BEIJING
CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO:  China is stepping up pressure on Taiwan 
President-elect Chen Shui-bian before his inauguration 
this Saturday.  V-O-A's Leta Hong Fincher reports from 
Beijing that the Chinese warn of catastrophe if the 
new president refuses to acknowledge the "one-China" 
principle.

TEXT:  Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang 
Qiyue issued a new warning to Taiwan's President-elect 
Chen Shui-bian, saying he must acknowledge Taiwan is a 
part of China.  

      /// ZHANG ACT-IN CHINESE, THEN FADE ///

Ms. Zhang says if Taiwan's new leaders truly care 
about the well being of the Taiwanese people, the 
smooth development of cross-strait relations, and 
peace in the Asia-Pacific, they should acknowledge the 
"one-China" principle.

Ms. Zhang's comments are the latest in a series of 
threatening statements in Chinese official newspapers.  
The People's Daily, China Daily, and the Liberation 
Daily all ran editorials warning of what they call - 
catastrophe - if Taiwan refuses to accept 
reunification with the mainland. 

Mr. Chen will become Taiwan's new president Saturday.  
China sees Taiwan as a breakaway province and has long 
threatened to invade the island if its leader declared 
independence.  

Mr. Chen poses a particular threat to Chinese leaders 
because his party, the Democratic Progressive Party, 
formally espouses independence.  Mr. Chen has backed 
away from that stance since his election victory on 
March 18th.  But Beijing is still distrustful of him 
and will be listening closely to what he says in his 
inauguration speech.

            /// REST OPT ///  

Ms. Zhang also lashed out against Tokyo Governor 
Shintaro Ishihara, who is planning to attend Mr. 
Chen's inauguration.  She says Sino-Japanese relations 
will suffer if the Tokyo governor goes ahead with his 
visit.

            /// ZHANG ACT-IN CHINESE, THEN FADE ///

She says China urges the Japanese to honor its 
commitments made to China on the question of Taiwan.  
Ms. Zhang advised Mr. Shintaro and other political 
figures in Japan not to do anything that interferes in 
China's internal affairs.   (SIGNED)
 
NEB/HK/LHF/GC/JO/RAE



18-May-2000 07:58 AM EDT (18-May-2000 1158 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.