DATE=6/30/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-234759
TITLE=CHINA / U-S / TAIWAN (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=STEPHANIE HO
DATELINE=SHANGHAI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:  

INTRO:  PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS MADE HIS STRONGEST COMMENTS YET ON 
TAIWAN -- REPEATING THE POSITION THAT THE UNITED STATES DOES  NOT
SUPPORT INDEPENDENCE FOR THE ISLAND.  V-O-A'S STEPHANIE HO 
REPORTS FROM SHANGHAI, THE AMERICAN PRESIDENT'S COMMENTS APPEAR 
AIMED AT APPEASING THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT, WHICH HAD BEEN SEEKING
SUCH A STATEMENT.

TEXT:  CHINA HAS REPEATEDLY SAID TAIWAN -- AN ISLAND BEIJING 
REGARDS AS A RENEGADE PROVINCE -- IS THE MAIN IRRITANT IN 
RELATIONS WITH THE UNITED STATES.

TAIWAN'S NATIONALIST GOVERNMENT LOST A CIVIL WAR TO THE 
COMMUNISTS IN 1949 AND FLED TO THE ISLAND.  AS RECENTLY AS 1996, 
THE YEAR TAIWANESE PRESIDENT LEE TENG-HUI WAS ELECTED, CHINA HELD
SEVERAL ROUNDS OF THREATENING MILITARY EXERCISES IN THE WATERS 
NEAR TAIWAN.

IN RESPONSE, THE UNITED STATES SENT WARSHIPS TO THE TAIWAN 
STRAIT.

THIS YEAR, WITH RELATIONS BETWEEN CHINA AND THE UNITED STATES 
IMPROVING, THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT HOPED PRESIDENT CLINTON WOULD 
MAKE A PUBLIC STATEMENT OUTLINING A POLICY DUBBED "THE THREE 
NOES."

IN A ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION TUESDAY MORNING IN SHANGHAI, PRESIDENT
CLINTON REPEATED THE U-S GOVERNMENT'S ADHERENCE TO "THE THREE 
NOES."

                    /// FIRST CLINTON ACT ///

  I HAD A CHANCE TO REITERATE OUR TAIWAN POLICY, WHICH IS THAT WE
DON'T SUPPORT INDEPENDENCE FOR TAIWAN; OR TWO CHINAS, OR ONE 
TAIWAN (AND) ONE CHINA; AND WE DON'T BELIEVE THAT TAIWAN SHOULD 
BE A MEMBER IN ANY ORGANIZATION FOR WHICH STATEHOOD IS A 
REQUIREMENT.

                         /// END ACT ///

IN HIS COMMENTS, PRESIDENT CLINTON ADDED THAT ANY REUNIFICATION 
BETWEEN CHINA AND TAIWAN MUST BE NON-VIOLENT.

                   /// SECOND CLINTON ACT ///

                 OUR ONLY POLICY HAS BEEN THAT WE THINK IT HAS TO
                 BE DONE PEACEFULLY.  THAT IS WHAT OUR LAW SAYS 
                 AND WE HAVE ENCOURAGED THE CROSS-STRAIT 
                 DIALOGUE.  I THINK, EVENTUALLY, IT WILL BEAR 
                 FRUIT IF EVERYONE IS PATIENT AND WORKS HARD. 

                         /// END ACT ///

IN 1979, THREE DECADES AFTER THE END OF THE CHINESE CIVIL WAR, 
THE UNITED STATES BROKE OFF RELATIONS WITH TAIPEI AND ESTABLISHED
FORMAL TIES WITH BEIJING.   (SIGNED) 

NEB/HO/FC/WTW 

NEB/HO/FC

30-Jun-98 3:51 AM EDT (0751 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.