DATE=6/27/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CHINA-TAIWAN-BRITAIN (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-263784
BYLINE=ROGER WILKISON
DATELINE=BEIJING
CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO:  China has reacted with fury at Britain for 
allowing a visit by former Taiwanese President Lee 
Teng-hui.  VOA correspondent Roger Wilkison reports 
Mr. Lee flew to Britain on Tuesday to attend his 
granddaughter's graduation from high school, but, as 
far as Beijing is concerned, his trip is designed to 
promote Taiwan's independence.

TEXT: Lee Teng-hui is a man China loves to hate. News 
of his first trip abroad since he left office last 
month was bound to elicit a strong reaction from 
Beijing, which has sought to block any foreign travel 
by the outspoken former Taiwanese leader.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhu Bangzao -
speaking through an interpreter - told reporters 
Tuesday that Mr. Lee is not an ordinary person but a 
troublemaker.

            /// INTERPRETER ACTUALITY ///

We are strongly opposed to the activities to be 
organized by Lee Teng-hui in the UK (Britain).  We 
have put forward solemn representations to the UK 
(British) government.  It is known to all that Lee 
Teng-hui has always engaged in "splittist"  
spearatist) activity, put forward the notorious two-
state theory, and advocated Taiwan independence.  And 
he's a "trouble-creator."

            /// END ACTUALITY ///

Last year, Mr. Lee infuriated China by declaring that 
relations between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait 
should be conducted on a state-to-state basis.  In 
Beijing's view, that was a move toward independence 
for the island China considers a wayward province.

Mr. Zhu would not say whether China called in 
Britain's ambassador in Beijing or asked London to 
revoke Mr. Lee's visa.  Nor would he say how Mr. Lee's 
visit to Britain may affect Sino-British ties.  

When Mr. Lee visited the United States in 1995 to 
attend a class reunion at Cornell University, China 
conducted war games and fired missiles off the 
Taiwanese coast.  It also recalled its ambassador from 
Washington. (signed)

NEB/HK/RW/JO



27-Jun-2000 05:23 AM EDT (27-Jun-2000 0923 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.