DATE=11/19/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=BUSH SPEECH (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=256382
BYLINE=ALISHA RYU
DATELINE=LOS ANGELES
CONTENT=



Intro:   The Republican U.S. presidential front-runner 
George W. Bush layed out his foreign policy visions 
for the first time in a speech in California Friday.   
V-O-A's Alisha Ryu in our West Coast Bureau reports 
Mr. Bush advocates stronger ties with U-S allies and a 
tougher stand against China and Russia.


Text:   Appearing cool and confident, Mr. Bush 
repeatedly called on Americans to reject isolationism, 
saying a U-S retreat from global affairs would create 
what he called "a short cut to chaos".

            // First Bush Act //

      It is an approach that abandons our allies and 
      our ideals.  The vacuum left by an American 
      retreat would invite challenges to our power and 
      the result in the long run would be a stagnant 
      America in a savage world.


            // End Act //

The Texas governor says strengthening U-S defense 
would be his first objective.   To counter what he 
said was Russia's inability to keep track of its 
nuclear stockpile, Mr. Bush says the United States 
should develop and deploy missile defense systems.   

He says he would encourage more U-S aid to help Russia 
dismantle its nuclear weapons and to reform its 
battered economy.  But he warned Russia it could find 
itself financially cutoff, if Russian forces continue 
to pound at civilian targets in the breakaway region 
of Chechnya. 

            // Second Bush Act //

      Even as we support Russian reforms, we cannot 
      excuse Russia's brutality.  When the Russian 
      government attacks civilians, killing women and 
      children, it can no longer expect aid from 
      international lending institutions.


            // End Act //

The Republican hopeful had even stronger words for 
China. Mr. Bush says he wants to work with Beijing to 
strengthen trade ties and to promote peace on the 
Korean peninsula. But calling China's military build-
ups "alarming" and its domestic conduct "appalling", 
Mr. Bush says,as president, he would deter any Chinese 
aggression in the region and protect Taiwan.

            // Third Bush Act //

      China is a competitor, not a strategic partner.  
      We must deal with China without ill will but 
      without illusions. If I am president, China 
      will find itself respected as a great power, but 
      in a region of strong democratic alliances.  It 
      will be unthreatened but not unchecked.  We do 
      not deny there is one China. But we deny the 
      right of Beijing to impose their rule on a free 
      people.


            // End Act //

Mr. Bush also gave a detailed rundown of his other 
foreign policy priorities, including his pledge to 
advance peace in the Middle East based on a secure 
Israel and to promote global free trade.

Friday's address was seen as a test of Mr. Bush's 
knowledge of global affairs.  Two weeks ago during a 
press briefing, he flunked a reporter's challenge to 
name the leaders of several important countries.   

Mr. Bush says he will be outlining more foreign policy 
visions in the future, emphasizing the Middle East and 
relationships with U-S neighbors in Canada, Mexico and 
Latin America. (Signed)     



19-Nov-1999 19:07 PM EDT (20-Nov-1999 0007 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.