China and U.S. at odds over Taiwan

Qian is the highest-ranking Chinese official to visit Washington in two years     ON THE NEWS Willy Lam: China's Vice Premier Qian Qichen's visit with President Bush

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By Staff and wire reports

WASHINGTON -- China has refused to rule out military action in a bid to enforce its One China policy towards Taiwan if the U.S. was to sell warships to the island nation.

Chinese Vice Premier Qian Qichen said the repercussions "would be very severe" if U.S. President George W. Bush approved arm sales to independence-minded Taiwan.

Qichen made the comments during an exclusive interview with CNN's Andrea Koppel at the conclusion of a meeting with Bush aimed at bolstering ties between the two countries.

But in Thursday's meeting with Qian, Bush said the U.S. would support the military needs of Taiwan while pushing for human rights reforms in Beijing.

Qian had warned that relations would suffer a "very serious" blow if Taiwan received permission to buy four U.S. destroyers equipped with advanced Aegis radar systems.

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The sabre-rattling over Taiwan by both sides was, however, tempered by a mutual acknowledgement that strong China-U.S. relations were crucial for both the Asian region and the world.

"The overall direction of the China - U.S. relationship is a positive one, although from time to time there will be problems popping up, but every time the problem can be well-resolved," said Qian.

Despite widespread perceptions that the Republican administration of Bush favored Taiwan more than their Democrat predecessors, Qian denied relations between the two countries would be more strained as a result.

"All U.S. administrations, be it Republican or Democratic, must pursue the same bipartisan politics. I don't see much difference between the policy of the Republican administration or Democratic administration" said Qian.

Defense shield

China also rejects Bush's missile defense plans but Qian played down the relevance of the plan during his CNN interview.

"We've heard explanation from the U.S. side and we're prepared to study it. It's a matter up to the U.S. side to decide," he said.

Qian Qichen greets Colin Powell: their talks centered on proposed arms sales to Taiwan

Meanwhile the U.S. remains firm on the need for human rights and religious freedom in China.

"There will be areas where we can find agreement, such as trade. There will be some areas where we have some disagreements," Bush told reporters with Qian sitting at his side.

Qian ceded no ground, insisting he wanted to maintain "friendly relations and cooperation" between the China and the U.S.

Qian, who is the highest-ranking Chinese official to visit Washington in two years, met with Bush after a meeting with Secretary of State Colin Powell that highlighted the differences over arms sales to Taiwan.

The self-governing island wants to buy the destroyers but the U.S. administration has offered no hint if the request will be approved.

Under the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act, U.S. policy is to meet Taiwan's legitimate defense needs.

"We have obligations under the Taiwan Relations Act, and we'll honor those obligations. No decision has been made yet as to the sale of weapons to Taiwan," Bush told reporters, saying he would listen to Beijing's view on the matter.

Bush did try to soothe Qian, telling the leader, "Nothing we do is a threat to you and I want you to tell that to your leadership," according to a senior adviser.

Human rights

Bush, who campaigned on a pledge to treat China as a "strategic competitor" rather than a "strategic partner," the policy pursued by the Clinton administration, made clear that relations would improve if China allowed greater religious freedom.

"Our relationship will move forward, but it would certainly be a lot easier to move forward in a constructive way when (the) people with whom we conduct our affairs honor religious freedom within their borders," the president said.

U.S. lawmakers have spoken out against China's crackdown on the Falun Gong spiritual movement. The U.S. has criticized China's human rights record and will sponsor a motion to condemn it at the U.N. Commission on Human Rights in Geneva.

Academic detained

Qian's visit comes amid an outcry over a U.S.-based academic detained in Beijing.

Bush seconded Powell's remarks, who complained hours before the Oval Office session about China's detention of Gao Zhan, detained in China for allegedly "damaging state security."

Powell said it was "particularly outrageous" that the woman's five-year-old son, a U.S. citizen, was taken from her and held for a month before being released.

Bush raised the matter and was told by Qian the woman may not have known she violated Chinese law, according to the senior U.S. official.

"They will look into it and get back to us," the official said.

Bush visit

For his part, Vice Premier Qian, to whom reporters did not direct any questions, said he viewed his U.S. visit "as a very successful one," and said he was "looking forward to welcoming President Bush to China in the coming fall."

After days of hesitation from his aides, Bush confirmed he will visit Beijing in the fall as part of a broader Asian trip. He recalled visiting the nation in 1975, when he was about 28 and his father was U.S. ambassador to China.

Preparing for the Oval Office meeting, Qian had also talked to top administration officials about Iraqi sanctions, Chinese and North Korean missile proliferation and obstacles preventing China from joining the World Trade Organisation.

The Associated Press & Reuters contributed to this report.

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