China FM Meets US Secretary of State in Singapore
Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan met with U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright in Singapore on July 25 and their discussions focused on bilateral relations and the Taiwan question.
During the meeting, Tang told Albright that the Chinese government always attaches importance to the development of the China-U.S. relationship, and that a healthy and stable Sino-U.S. relationship conforms to the fundamental interests of both the Chinese people and the American people, and the people in all countries of the world.
But Tang pointed out that the Sino-U.S. relationship has been seriously damaged by the U.S. bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade, according to a Chinese spokeswoman.
Tang said China finds it hard to accept the explanation and the so-called "conclusion" made by the U.S. side hitherto. He urged the U.S. side to give full recognition to the serious nature of the bombing incident, give serious attention to the Chinese side's solemn demands and take practical action to remedy the serious damage to the China-U.S. relationship.
Albright said the U.S. attaches high importance to its relationship with China. She repeated the U.S. previous statements that the bombing of the Chinese embassy was a tragic accident and said U.S. President Bill Clinton, herself, and other administration officials have repeatedly formally apologized to the Chinese side for the bombing.
She said the U.S. was willing to take practical action to seek a proper settlement of the issue so as to return the U.S.-China relations to their normal track.
Albright reaffirmed the U.S. government's commitment to the "one China" policy and said Washington will not change this policy.
Tang Jiaxuan also expounded the Chinese side's solemn stand on the Taiwan question. The Taiwan question has always been the most important and sensitive core issue in the China-U.S. relationship and the proper handling by the U.S. of the Taiwan issue holds the key to the healthy and steady development of the bilateral relations, the Chinese foreign minister said.
He said Lee Teng-hui recently openly defined the cross-Straits relations as "state-to-state" ties and that the essence of the "two-states theory" is to deny the "one China" principle and to separate Taiwan from the Chinese territory.
As the Taiwan question is one that relates to China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, it is naturally that Lee Teng-hui's separatist remarks aimed at splitting the country have met with the firm opposition from the whole Chinese people, including Taiwan compatriots, Tang said.
He urged the U.S. side to abide by the three communiques and honor all commitments it has made on Taiwan, which is vital to stabilizing the situation across the Taiwan Strait and returning bilateral relations to a normal track.
He said the Chinese government has noted and attaches importance to the fact that the U.S. administration has recently time and again reaffirmed the "one China" policy.
Albright reaffirmed the U.S. government's commitment to the "one China" policy and said Washington will not change this policy.
She said the U.S. honors the three joint communiques, does not support "Taiwan independence," "two Chinas" or "one China, one Taiwan," and does not support Taiwan's membership in any international organization where statehood is required.
She said the Taiwan question should be settled by the Chinese themselves on both sides of the Taiwan Strait and the U.S. hoped that the issue would be resolved through peaceful means.
Tang said the Chinese government's basic policy of settling the Taiwan question is one of "peaceful reunification," and "one country, two systems."
While the Chinese government stands for peaceful reunification, it will not commit itself to renouncing the use of force, Tang said. "If we commit ourselves to abandoning the use of force, peaceful reunification would become empty talk," he pointed out.
The Chinese foreign minister urged the United States to properly handle the problems in bilateral relations and create the necessary conditions and atmosphere for the China-U.S. relations to return onto a normal track. (Xinhua)
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