DATE=12/17/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-243141
TITLE=CHINA/IRAQ (L)
BYLINE=STEPHANIE HO
DATELINE=BEIJING
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:  

INTRO:  CHINA SAYS IT IS DEEPLY SHOCKED AT THE U-S AND BRITISH 
MILITARY ACTION AGAINST IRAQ.  AS VOA'S STEPHANIE HO REPORTS, 
BEIJING IS CALLING FOR THE AIR STRIKES TO STOP IMMEDIATELY.

TEXT:  CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN SUN YUXI, SPEAKING 
THROUGH AN INTERPRETER, SAID HIS GOVERNMENT HAS CONSISTENTLY BEEN
OPPOSED TO THE USE OF FORCE TO RESOLVE THE IRAQI WEAPONS 
INSPECTION ISSUE.

      // SUN INTERPRETER ACT //

  WE CONDEMN THIS ACT.  WE CALL ON THE UNITED STATES TO 
IMMEDIATELY HALT ALL THE MILITARY ACTIONS AGAINST IRAQ.

           // END ACT //

MR. SUN SAID THE ACTION IS UNILATERAL, AND WAS TAKEN WITHOUT THE 
AUTHORIZATION OF THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL.  CHINA IS ONE OF THE 
COUNCIL'S FIVE PERMANENT MEMBERS.

HE ADDED THAT CHINA FEELS UNSCOM CHAIRMAN RICHARD BUTLER'S MOST 
RECENT REPORT DID NOT OBJECTIVELY REFLECT THE PROGRESS THAT HAS 
BEEN MADE IN IRAQI WEAPONS INSPECTION.  BUT HE SAID HE COULD NOT 
PROVIDE ANY SPECIFIC DETAILS.

IN THE MEANTIME, HE SAID THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT IS NOT SO WORRIED
THAT IT HAS EVACUATED ITS PEOPLE FROM IRAQ.

        // SUN INTERPRETER ACT //

  WE ARE FOLLOWING CLOSELY THE DEVELOPMENTS OF THE SITUATION.  
THE  CHINESE EMBASSY IN IRAQ NOW MAINTAINS ITS NORMAL WORKING 
STATE.  UP UNTIL  NOW, THE INFORMATION I HAVE GOT IS THAT ALL 
CHINESE IN IRAQ ARE SAFE AND SOUND. 

         // END ACT //

THE CHINESE SPOKESMAN CRITICIZED THE UNITED STATES, BUT WOULD NOT
SAY WHETHER BEIJING FELT THE AIR STRIKES WERE AIMED AT 
DISTRACTING ATTENTION AWAY FROM DOMESTIC U-S PROBLEMS.

       // OPT SUN INTERPRETER ACT // 

 AS TO THE DOMESTIC ISSUE OF THE UNITED STATES YOU MENTIONED, I 
WON'T MAKE ANY COMMENT ON THAT.

        // END OPT ACT //

A SPOKESMAN AT THE U-S EMBASSY IN BEIJING SAYS AMERICAN OFFICIALS
MET TWICE WITH THE CHINESE AT SENIOR LEVELS ON THURSDAY, TO ASK 
FOR CHINA'S SUPPORT BOTH PUBLICLY AND IN THE U-N SECURITY 
COUNCIL.  HE SAID THE ONLY RESPONSE SO FAR HAS BEEN THE 
GOVERNMENT'S OFFICIAL STATEMENT.  (SIGNED)

NEB/HO/FC/PLM

17-Dec-98 5:09 AM EST (1009 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.