DATE=7/2/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-234884
TITLE=CHINA / U-S / TAIWAN (L ONLY)
BYLINE=ROGER WILKISON
DATELINE=BEIJING
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:  

INTRO:  CHINA IS CRITICIZING THE UNITED STATES FOR RESTATING ITS 
INTENTION  TO SELL ARMS TO TAIWAN, DESPITE WHAT BEIJING SAYS ARE 
U-S COMMITMENTS TO  REDUCE AND EVENTUALLY HALT SUCH SALES.  V-O-A
CORRESPONDENT ROGER WILKISON  REPORTS THE CHINESE FOREIGN 
MINISTRY SAYS IT REGARDS WEAPONS SALES TO TAIWAN AS INTERFERENCE 
IN CHINA'S INTERNAL AFFAIRS.

TEXT:  THE CHINESE ARE REACTING TO A STATEMENT WEDNESDAY BY U-S 
DEPUTY NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER JAMES STEINBERG.  MR. STEINBERG 
TOLD REPORTERS ACCOMPANYING PRESIDENT CLINTON ON HIS STATE VISIT 
TO CHINA, THAT WASHINGTON WILL CONTINUE TO SELL ARMS TO TAIWAN 
DESPITE BEIJING'S OBJECTIONS.

THAT STATEMENT CAME A DAY AFTER MR. CLINTON EXPLICITLY REAFFIRMED
A U-S COMMITMENT TO ONE CHINA, RULED FROM BEIJING AND OPPOSITION 
TO INDEPENDENCE  FOR TAIWAN.  MR. CLINTON ALSO  SAID WASHINGTON 
OPPOSES TAIWANESE MEMBERSHIP IN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS.

CHINA HAD BEEN PRESSING THE UNITED STATES FOR SUCH A 
REAFFIRMATION OF U-S POLICY ON TAIWAN, WHICH BEIJING CONSIDERS TO
BE THE CORE ISSUE IN SINO/U-S RELATIONS.  IT SAYS U-S ARMS SALES 
TO THE ISLAND VIOLATE THREE SINO/U-S AGREEMENTS, UNDER WHICH 
WASHINGTON PROMISES TO SLOWLY END SUCH TRANSFERS.   BUT MR. 
STEINBERG INDICATED THAT BEIJING -- WHICH HAS NOT RULED OUT THE 
USE  OF FORCE TO CAPTURE TAIWAN -- SHOULD LIVE UP TO ITS PROMISES
THAT IT IS COMMITTED TO A PEACEFUL RESOLUTION OF THE ISSUE.

CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN TANG GUOQIANG -- SPEAKING 
THROUGH AN  INTERPRETER -- SAID THE ARMS SALES INTERFERE WITH 
BEIJING'S SOVEREIGNTY OVER THE ISLAND.

             /////INTERPRETER ACTUALITY/////

 TAIWAN IS AN INTERNAL AFFAIR OF CHINA, WHICH TOLERATES NO 
FOREIGN INTERFERENCE.  SO THE SALES OF ARMS TO TAIWAN BY FOREIGN 
COUNTRIES IS INTERFERENCE IN CHINA'S INTERNAL AFFAIRS.

             /////END ACTUALITY/////

MR. TANG SAYS CHINA HOPES THAT THE UNITED STATES WILL HONOR ITS 
COMMITMENTS UNDER THE THREE AGREEMENTS.  HE ALSO DENOUNCED THE 
TAIWAN RELATIONS ACT, A 1979 LAW THAT OBLIGES WASHINGTON TO 
SUPPLY ARMS TO THE  ISLAND FOR ITS DEFENSE, AS BEING INCONSISTENT
WITH ITS PLEDGES TO STOP SUCH TRANSFERS.  THE SPOKESMAN CALLED ON
TAIWAN TO ENTER INTO POLITICAL NEGOTIATIONS, AIMED AT REUNIFYING 
THE ISLAND WITH CHINA, AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

TAIWAN PRESIDENT LEE TENG-HUI SAYS HE IS GRATEFUL TO WASHINGTON 
FOR KEEPING ITS PROMISE TO ARM THE ISLAND.  BUT MR. LEE'S EFFORTS
TO GIVE TAIWAN A HIGHER DIPLOMATIC PROFILE HAVE BEEN SET BACK BY 
THE U-S PLEDGE NOT TO SUPPORT TAIWANESE MEMBERSHIP IN 
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS. (SIGNED)

NEB/RW/FC

02-Jul-98 7:06 AM EDT (1106 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.