DATE=7/10/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-235297
TITLE=U-S / TAIWAN (L)
BYLINE=DEBORAH TATE
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  THE U-S SENATE HAS VOTED (92-0) TO REAFFIRM U-S SUPPORT 
FOR TAIWAN -- A MOVE REPUBLICAN CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS SAY IS IN 
RESPONSE TO PRESIDENT CLINTON'S COMMENTS LAST WEEK IN CHINA ABOUT
THE NATIONALIST-CONTROLLED ISLAND.  THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION 
SAYS POLITICS IS BEHIND THE MEASURE.  V-O-A'S DEBORAH TATE 
REPORTS.



TEXT:  THE NON-BINDING RESOLUTION CALLS ON MR. CLINTON TO SEEK 
CHINA'S RENUNCIATION OF THE USE OF FORCE AGAINST TAIWAN, TO 
REAFFIRM THE 1979 TAIWAN RELATIONS ACT AND TO ASSURE TAIWAN THERE
HAS BEEN NO DATE SET FOR AN END TO ARMS SALES.              

SENATE MAJORITY LEADER TRENT LOTT ACCUSED MR. CLINTON OF SHIFTING
POLICY TOWARD TAIWAN BY PUBLICLY EMPHASIZING U-S OPPOSITION TO 
INDEPENDENCE FOR THE ISLAND, ITS MEMBERSHIP IN INTERNATIONAL 
ORGANIZATIONS, AND THE CONCEPT OF "TWO CHINA'S".

                          // LOTT ACTUALITY //

         CHINESE OFFICIALS UNDERSTAND WHAT CLINTON OFFICIALS 
         DENY:  THE PRESIDENT'S REMARKS WERE A MAJOR VICTORY FOR 
         BEIJING AND MAJOR BLOW TO DEMOCRATIC TAIWAN.

                                    // END ACT //                
                                        

MR. CLINTON'S COMMENTS -- MADE DURING A MEETING WITH COMMUNITY 
LEADERS IN SHANGHAI LAST WEEK -- DID PROMPT AN ANGRY RESPONSE 
FROM TAIPEI, AND A WARM ONE FROM BEIJING, WHICH CONSIDERS TAIWAN 
A RENEGADE PROVINCE.                         

BUT WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN MIKE MCCURRY SAYS THE PRESIDENT'S 
REMARKS DID NOT REPRESENT A DEPARTURE FROM ESTABLISHED U-S POLICY
TOWARD TAIWAN.                                                   
 

HE SAYS HE BELIEVES POLITICS WAS BEHIND THE SENATE VOTE.

                         // MCCURRY ACTUALITY //

         MY STRONG SUSPICION IS THAT THE REMARKS OF SENATOR LOTT 
         ARE ONCE  AGAIN AN EFFORT BY REPUBLICAN LEADERS TO LOOK 
         FOR THE DARK LINING IN  THE SILVER CLOUD.  IT IS ANOTHER
         ATTEMPT TO TAKE WHAT WAS WIDELY HELD  AS A SUCCESSFUL 
         TRIP BY THE PRESIDENT, POLITICIZE THE RESULTS, AND TURN 
         IT INTO SOMETHING IT WAS NOT.

                              // END ACT //

THE TAIWAN RELATIONS ACT, ALONG WITH THREE COMMUNIQUES, SPELL OUT
U-S POLICY RECOGNIZING BEIJING AS THE SOLE LEGITIMIATE GOVERNMENT
OF CHINA.  (SIGNED)



NEB/DAT/PT

10-Jul-98 5:51 PM EDT (2151 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.