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Thu, Apr 3, 1997
PRC Says US Must Speak With One Voice
also: Taiwan sticks to its PRC policies; PRC and Thailand ink deals; Thailand to support PRC bid for WTO; Vietnam and PRC to meet; and more . . .Please read the statement of purpose.
United States: the mainland has spoken out against what it considers to be conflicting voices in US foreign policy, reports Inside China. The call for a "single voice" comes after US Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich's remarks to PRC leaders and meetings with Taiwan's vice president. Gingrich told China's top leaders that the US would defend Taiwan against a military invasion, and in remarks made during his visit to Taiwan he praised Taiwan's transformation into a democracy and said it was a model for the PRC and the world. "Taiwan has completed a remarkable journey to full democracy. Taiwan's elected legislature and the recent inauguration of the first popularly elected president in over 4,000 years of Chinese history, provide a model not only for the People's Republic of China, but for the world," he said.
But Beijing said today there "are contradictions in the words of U.S. leaders, including leaders of Congress. We have seen that the words of the U.S. government including promises. We even more do not wish to see all the departments of the U.S. government carrying out different foreign policies. That would be very laughable."
Politics: MS TKG's Chinese Politics Site has news and commentary on political events concerning China and Tawain. There's satire and interesting analysis on a number of topics, including a recent piece on Newt Gingrich's trip to Taiwan and China.
Ms TKG welcomes comments.
Taiwan: describing its relations with the mainland as "hostile", the Taiwan government upheld its ban on direct investment in the mainland, reports Inside China. The statement comes after Taiwan's top industrial enterprise, Formosa Plastics group, made plans to build a US$3 billion power plant in Fujian Province. Taiwan's government has said repeatedly that citizens should put the national interest ahead of anything else, and that further economic liberalization vis-a-vis the mainland could not occur until the PRC demonstrated good faith in resolving cross-straits issues, reports the paper.
Vietnam: talks to resolve the issue surrounding a PRC drilling platform in Vietnam's waters will be held in Beijing on April 9, reports Inside China.
Thailand: the Bangkok Post reports on Prime Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh's trip to Beijing. Mr Chavalit, who also is the country's Defense Minister, said he is hopeful a solution to the PRC-Vietnam dispute will be solved, reports the paper. "The two sides should let go of the pains from the past and step by step talk things through." Regional stability would be assured, he said, if nations concentrate more on social, rather than political, stability, the paper reports.
The General also mentioned Sino-Burma relations and said it was "natural for China to be concerned about Burma," but it's not entirely clear from context what this statement means; the paper offers no elaboration. Saying the relationship between the two countries would have no impact on Thailand, he said Thailand will not interfere in the internal affairs of other countries.
Yesterday the Prime Minister and Li Peng signed five agreements. These include an agreement to permit the Thai consulate to remain in Hong Kong after July 1 and visa-free travel between both countries for military and diplomatic personel. "A letter of intent on joint Sino-Thai cooperation on merchant marine development and promotion was also signed," reports the paper.
The agreements and subsequent announcements were not only made in the context of bilateral relations. China made it clear it wanted further integration with Asean countries. The paper reports, "China wants to build a hydro-power plant across the river in Sipsongpanna and wants Thailand to buy power from it." Sipsongpanna, or Xishuangbanna in Chinese, is an autonomous prefecture in southern Yunnan Province adjacent to the Shan State in Burma and northern Laos. Populated by Dai speaking peoples the area is culturally and economically oriented toward Thailand and the nations south of the border. In recent years the trade in the area has flourished and tourism had become an important part to the economy. Mr Chavalit asked Li to lower tariffs for Thai goods, and "Mr Li pledged to support construction of highways and railroads linking China and Asean members," reports the paper.
Today Mr Chavalit announced his support for China's entrance into the WTO, or World Trade Organization. And again this was done in the context of bilateral relations and Asean: by supporting China's ascension to the organization Thailand would be helping to lower trade barriers for its own goods as well as those from other countries. Finance Minister Narongchai "said Thailand and China have agreed to jointly protect the benefits of one another if China is granted WTO membership," reports the paper. How they will "protect" each other's "benefits" is unclear, but obviously trade and commerce are important to this equation.
Indeed, the paper reports, Mr Narongchai said Burma and Laos will be permitted to join Asean this year, and for the first time in history Asean and the PRC will share a border. "China, Asean and the Mekong sub-region would increase cross-border trade and share natural resources, he said." Planning for the level of economic and territorial integration suggested by Mr Narrowing has been on-going for years.
The China Daily has an article on these developments: Sino-Thai friendship steadfast
Korea: this short Inside China article reports on North Korea's recent purchase of ostriches from the PRC. Although few details are given, the article does mention that North Korea may be weeks away from wide-spread famine.
Development: China Daily reports, the PRC convened the "'97 Investment and Trade Forum for East-West Co-operation" today in Xi'an as part of its efforts to spur economic growth in the poor hinterland. The forum will concentrate on encouraging investment and economic development in the western provinces of the country. The forum is administered through the "State Council's Special Economic Zones Office and the governments of Jiangsu, Shaanxi provinces and Shanghai and Tianjin municipalities," reports the paper, and has participants from the United States, Hong Kong, Taiwan and other nations.