CHINA: U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE COLIN POWELL URGES BEIJING TO HOLD DIALOGUE WITH TAIWAN BUT DEFENDS U.S. ARMS SALES TO THE ISLAND
Record ID:
222790
CHINA: U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE COLIN POWELL URGES BEIJING TO HOLD DIALOGUE WITH TAIWAN BUT DEFENDS U.S. ARMS SALES TO THE ISLAND
- Title: CHINA: U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE COLIN POWELL URGES BEIJING TO HOLD DIALOGUE WITH TAIWAN BUT DEFENDS U.S. ARMS SALES TO THE ISLAND
- Date: 25th October 2004
- Summary: (W3) BEIJING, CHINA (OCTOBER 25, 2004) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. WIDE OF NEWS CONFERENCE/U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE COLIN POWELL WALKING ONTO STAGE 0.10 2. SCU: PHOTOGRAPHERS 0.14 3. SOUNDBITE(English) U.S.SECRETARY OF STATE COLIN POWELL SAYING: "We had a good discussion with respect to the situation in Taiwan. I reinforced our total commitment to our one-China policy based on three communiqus and our responsibilities under the Taiwan Relations Act and we once again said that we felt strongly that both sides should avoid any unilateral actions that might prejudice progress, and I particularly encouraged Chinese leaders that I've met with today to do everything they could to get into cross-Strait dialogue in a more systemic and more deliberate way." 0.53 4. WS: NEWS CONFERENCE 0.57 5. SOUNDBITE (English) COLIN POWELL SAYING: "We believe that we will continue to meet our responsibilities under the Taiwan Relations Act and do it in a way that in no way undercuts our basic policy, which is the one-China policy, based on the three communiqus. We very carefully balance the responsibilities that we have to China and the responsibilities that we have to Taiwan under our own domestic law." 1.21 6. WS: NEWS CONFERENCE 1.27 7. SOUNDBITE (English) COLIN POWELL SAYING: "With respect to human rights, we have said previously and I said it again today, that we had seen some improvements in human rights behaviour in 2002, but we have seen some moving backwards in 2003 with respect to detention of journalists, with respect to other individuals who have not been able to move about as freely and participate in civil society as freely as we would like to see. And we think it would be in an interest of Chinese people for this to happen. And so, things have slowed down in respect to human rights." 2.06 8. BACK VIEW: U.S. TOP ENVOY ON NORTH KOREA JAMES KELLY TALKING TO OFFICIAL 2.09 9. WIDE OF PRESSER 2.15 10. SOUNDBITE (English) COLIN POWELL SAYING: "I'm confident that the Chinese are totally committed to the six-party framework, view that as a way to find a solution, and we will be working towards finding that solution." 2.26 11. CAMERA CREWS 2.31 12. POWELL WALKING OUT AFTER NEWS CONFERENCE 2.37 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 9th November 2004 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: BEIJING, CHINA
- Country: China
- Reuters ID: LVADON7GBP4K5FVTT7KZHBL37GQA
- Story Text: U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell urges China to
hold a dialogue with Taiwan, but defends U.S. arms sales to
the island.
On the second leg of a three-nation Asian tour
dominated by the North Korean nuclear impasse, U.S.
Secretary of State Colin ended a visit to Beijing on Monday
(October 25).
In meetings with Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing,
Prime Minister Wen Jiabao and President Hu Jintao, North
Korea and Taiwan dominated talks, as well as human rights.
While American-Sino ties have improved during the Bush
administration, Chinese officials say they consider the
Taiwan issue the top sore spot in relations between the two
nations.
At a news conference, Powell reiterated U.S. support
for one-China policy, but urged China to do more to pursue
dialogue with Taiwan.
"We had a good discussion with respect to the situation in
Taiwan. I reinforced our total commitment to
our one-China policy based on three communiqus and our
responsibilities under the Taiwan Relations Act and we once
again said that we felt strongly that both sides should
avoid any unilateral actions that might prejudice progress,
and I particularly encouraged Chinese leaders that I've met
with today to do everything they could to get into
cross-Strait dialogue in a more systemic and more
deliberate way," Powell said.
Although the United States doesn't have formal ties
with Taiwan, Washington is the biggest provider of weapons
to the island and would likely come to its defence in the
event of an attack.
Powell said the U.S. would continue to sell arms to
Taiwan despite Beijing's opposition.
"We believe that we will continue to meet our
responsibilities under the Taiwan Relations Act and do it
in a way that in no way undercuts our basic policy, which
is the one-China policy, based on the three communiqus. We
very carefully balance the responsibilities that we have to
China and the responsibilities that we have to Taiwan under
our own domestic law," Powell said.
Taiwan and China split amid civil war in 1949 and
Beijing considers Taiwan a renegade province, repeatedly
threatening to use military power against the island if it
moves toward independence.
Powell announced that a suspended human rights dialogue
between China and U.S. would formally resume, but
criticised China for its deteriorating rights record.
"With respect to human rights, we have said previously
and I said it again today, that we had seen some
improvements in human rights behaviour in 2002, but we have
seen some moving backwards in 2003 with respect to
detention of journalists, with respect to other individuals
who have not been able to move about as freely and
participate in civil society as freely as we would like to
see. And we think it would be in an interest of Chinese
people for this to happen. And so, things have slowed down
in respect to human rights," Powell said.
China cut off talks with the United States in March
after the U.S. supported a resolution condemning China's
record on human rights.
Powell praised China's role in bringing North Korea to
the negotiating table.
U.S. officials say Washington is looking for Beijing to
exert more pressure on Pyongyang to convince North Korea
return to stalled talks on its nuclear weapons programmes.
"I'm confident that the Chinese are totally committed
to the six-party framework, view that as a way to find a
solution, and we will be working towards finding that
solution," Powell said.
U.S. officials believe China, which probably has the
most sway over its communist neighbour among participants
at the talks, should exert its influence more as host of
the negotiations.
Later on Monday, Powell was scheduled to leave for
South Korea, where the relocation of U.S. troops and North
Korea's nuclear programmes were likely to top the agenda.
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