DATE=10/19/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=TAIWAN - CHINA (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-255209
BYLINE=DERRICK MCELHERON
DATELINE=TAIPEI
CONTENT=

VOICED AT:


INTRO:  The government of Taiwan is rejecting 
statements made by Chinese President Jiang Zemin, that 
China's reunification with the island will be achieved 
in the first half of the next century, under the same 
terms as the handover of Hong Kong.  As Derrick 
McElheron reports from Taipei, Taiwanese officials are 
calling President Jiang's remarks insignificant for 
the island.

TEXT: Taiwan's President Lee Teng Hui has dismissed 
Chinese President Jiang's remarks on reunification as 
"a lie," saying the island will not officially respond 
to the proposal.  President Lee made the comments 
Tuesday while overseeing reconstruction efforts, as 
the country rebuilds from last month's devastating 
earthquake.

Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council Chairman, Su Chi, 
also rejected President Jiang's proposal, as 
impractical and said Beijing's leaders should 
concentrate their efforts on the democratization of 
their own system.

Mr. Su added that the future of cross-Strait relations 
cannot be determined unilaterally.

The remarks from President Lee and from Taiwan's 
leading spokesman on relations with China, came 
shortly after a report in the British newspaper, The 
Times of London.  The paper quoted President Jiang as 
saying that China will be reunified in the first half 
of the next century and it will follow the Hong Kong 
formula of "one country, two systems."

The article quotes President Jiang as saying China has 
succeeded in maintaining stability and prosperity in 
Hong Kong and that prosperity will serve as a 
significant example to resolve the question of Taiwan.

President Jiang also told the British newspaper the 
United States could improve its relations with China 
if it would stop selling arms to Taiwan.

The U-S Congress is currently discussing a bill to 
allow new exports of arms to Taiwan.

China considers Taiwan to be a breakaway province and 
has threatened to invade the island if Taipei abandons 
its stated goal of reunifying with China and declares 
itself independent.  (SIGNED)

NEB/DM/FC/PLM 



19-Oct-1999 02:24 AM EDT (19-Oct-1999 0624 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.