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East Asia
China’s Premier Urges U.S. to Curb Taiwan
2003-11-25
Sure, we’ll get right on it. EFL.
BEIJING (AP) - China’s premier says the United States must recognize the danger of the Taiwan president’s ``separatist agenda’’ and oppose any effort toward formal independence for the island. Premier Wen Jiabao, in an interview with The Washington Post published Sunday, also said his country does not want ``excessive and long-term’’ trade surpluses with the United States.
"And in thirty years we’ll run a trade deficit with you guys. See how fair that is?"
Wen called Taiwan the ``most important and sensitive issue’’ in Sino-U.S. relations. He said Beijing wants peaceful unification with Taiwan, but he insisted that Washington abide by a commitment not to increase weapons sales to the island, which has been ruled separately since 1949.
"Marvin, how do we handle this one?"
"Mr. Secretary, I don’t see the problem with our arms sales."
"But now we’re going to sell missile frigates and AWACS to Taiwan, whereas fifty years we were selling them rifles!"
"Mr. Secretary, the total number of parts on the invoice is the same. One rifle then, one F-18 today."
"Ah, very good, Marvin."
Wen’s comments came amid unusually bellicose rants warnings from China about a push by Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian for a new constitution and a law on public referendums. Beijing asserts that those are meant as steps toward declaring formal independence, which the communist government warns could prompt China to attack the island. ``I hope the U.S. government will recognize the gravity and danger of the provocative remarks and actions taken by the leader of the Taiwan authorities ... and that the U.S. side would not send any wrong signals,’’ Wen was quoted as saying. ``The U.S. side must be crystal clear in opposing the use of a referendum or writing a constitution or all other tactics used ... to pursue his separatist agenda.’’
This is a little more than the usual run-up to the Taiwanese election.
Posted by:Steve White

#5  comments); ?>werwer
Posted by: Zhang Fei   2003-11-25 3:50:04 PM  

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Posted by: whitecollar redneck   2003-11-25 9:21:34 AM  

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Posted by: Val   2003-11-25 5:23:08 AM  

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Posted by: mojo   2003-11-25 12:58:05 AM  

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Posted by: Anonymous2U   2003-11-25 12:47:43 AM  

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