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Politics : THE VAST RIGHT WING CONSPIRACY -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: calgal who wrote (4733)	12/9/2003 11:15:37 AM
From: calgal	Respond to of 6358

Bush Welcomes Chinese Premier at White House URL:http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,105239,00.html Tuesday, December 09, 2003 WASHINGTON — President Bush hosted China's premier Tuesday as his administration sent signals sure to please Beijing, using uncharacteristically blunt language to oppose a Taiwanese plan that could foreshadow a move toward independence. "Our position on Taiwan and China remains the same: the president does not support Taiwan independence and opposes any unilateral steps by Beijing or Taipei that would alter Taiwan's status," White House spokesman Scott McClellan. Asked whether the administration had conveyed that message directly to the Taiwanese, McClellan said: "They are well aware of our views." McClellan and other administration officials issued the warning ahead of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (search)'s White House meetings Tuesday with Bush and other senior officials. Beijing considers Taiwan an inseparable part of China. The Bush administration has maintained a "one-China" policy (search) for years. Prompting the harsh language by the official was a plan by Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian (search) to hold a March referendum. A new law gives him the power to hold a "defensive referendum" when the island's sovereignty faces imminent threat. The referendum, timed to coincide with presidential elections, would ask voters whether they want to demand that China withdraw hundreds of missiles aimed at Taiwan and renounce the use of force against the island. "Taiwan seems to be pushing the envelope pretty vigorously on questions that seem to be related to Taiwan's status. And that makes us uncomfortable," said a U.S. official speaking on condition of anonymity. The statement came at a time when the United States is working closely with China in hopes of negotiating an end to North Korea's nuclear weapons programs (search). Bush gave Wen the pomp and pageantry of an official visit, greeting him on the South Lawn of the White House as an American band played the anthems of both countries. In Taipei, Taiwanese Foreign Minister Eugene Chien told state radio that since the first U.S. remarks came from an unidentified official, Taiwan's government would not comment extensively until more was known about the source. But Chien added, "The United States doesn't want our referendum to affect the stability in the Taiwan Strait. We fully understand this." Wen, who became premier in March, gave a speech on trade issues in New York on Monday, then dined with Secretary of State Colin Powell at the State Department as dozens of pro-Falun Gong demonstrators marched in subfreezing temperatures outside. The Falun Gong (search), a spiritual movement, was banned by China several years ago. In a toast, Powell offered warm praise for Wen. "You have been candid, constructive, and you have sought cooperative relationships, and that is precisely what we seek with China: a candid, constructive and cooperative relationship," Powell said. On Tuesday morning, Wen went to Capitol Hill in advance of his meeting with the president at the White House, holding talks with House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill. The two posed briefly for photographers, exchanging greetings before going behind closed doors for talks. China has made clear that it would regard a Taiwanese referendum on any issue to be a step toward independence. While reproaching Taiwan, the U.S. official said the administration cannot countenance any Chinese use of force against Taiwan. The administration has for years supported a one-China policy and said the only answer was negotiations leading to a peaceful settlement. The United States, under the Taiwan Relations Act (search), has pledged to defend Taiwan if it is attacked by the mainland. But no administration has ever spelled out precisely the circumstances under which force would be used to defend Taiwan. In his New York speech, Wen warned the United States against imposing further trade barriers on Chinese products and urged Washington to find ways of increasing exports to his country as a way of lowering its ballooning trade deficit. "I have come to this country to seek friendship and cooperation, not to fight a trade war," Wen told business executives during a luncheon sponsored by the American Bankers Association. At the same time, he urged the United States to play by global trade rules set by the World Trade Organization (search), which China joined two years ago, and to "not politicize economic and trade issues." Facing strong pressure over China's rising trade surplus with the United States in the run-up to a presidential election next year, the Bush administration has been pushing Beijing to speed up market opening measures and relax controls on its currency that it contends make Chinese exports unfairly cheap on world markets. Last year, China's surplus with the United States hit a record $103 billion. It is forecast to exceed $120 billion this year, despite a narrowing of Beijing's surplus with the rest of the world. McClellan said he expected the issue to arise in a second meeting between Bush, Wen and economic advisers to both leaders.