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Politics : The Donkey's Inn -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Mephisto who wrote (3284)	3/18/2002 5:57:16 PM
From: Mephisto	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 15516

China Bluntly Rebukes U.S. Over Nuclear Policy Review The New York Times March 17, 2002 By REUTERS BEIJING, March 16 (Reuters) - Using its strongest language against the United States in months, China accused Washington today of "nuclear blackmail." The state television said that Vice Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing called in Ambassador Clark T. Randt Jr. to deliver "solemn representations" on a Pentagon nuclear policy review that contains contingency planning for a possible nuclear confrontation with China, among other countries. "China wants to make it very clear that China will never yield to foreign threats, including nuclear blackmail," the television report quoted Mr. Li as telling Mr. Randt. "The days when China could be bullied are gone forever." Threats would "simply increase the determination of the Chinese people to safeguard their sovereignty," he added. Mr. Li also accused Washington of encouraging independence activists in Taiwan, which Beijing regards as a rebel province, by allowing Taiwan's defense minister, Tang Yiau-ming, to visit the United States and to meet senior officials. Beijing typically issues angry protests when a senior Taiwan official is allowed into the United States. But China was particularly upset by Mr. Tang's talks with Deputy Defense Secretary Paul D. Wolfowitz, the highest-level documented defense talks between the United States and Taiwan in at least 22 years. China's Foreign Ministry said that Mr. Tang's visit, and his meeting with Mr. Wolfowitz at a private conference in Florida, jeopardized a recent warming in Chinese-American ties. The talks focused on American arms sales to Taiwan and were seen by some analysts as an effort to counter China's growing military power. On Wednesday, an official Chinese newspaper accused Washington of using the policy review as a pretext to resume nuclear tests and develop new nuclear arms to extend its military dominance in the world. But Mr. Li's language was the strongest China has used against the United States in many months and stood out sharply against the background of improved ties since Beijing backed the American war on terror. Mr. Li accused Washington of breaching three joint communiques, which paved the way for a normalization of ties, by offering Taiwan advanced weapons. "The United States must abandon the idea of Taiwan as an unsinkable aircraft carrier," he was quoted as saying. "Taiwan has been a burden on the U.S. shoulders for more than half a century," he added. "We don't see any good in the U.S. continuing to shoulder that burden. It will simply drop a stone on its own toes." In the three communiques, Washington recognized Chinese sovereignty over Taiwan, promised to reduce arms sales to the island gradually and agreed to maintain unofficial links to Taiwan. President Bush reaffirmed that recognition of Chinese sovereignty during a visit to Beijing last month, but he also said Washington would honor its commitment to protect Taiwan in the face of attack or provocation. Last year, Mr. Bush said he would do "whatever it took" to help Taiwan repel any Chinese invasion. nytimes.com