August 19, 1999
Web posted at: 6:47 PM EDT (2247 GMT)

From White House Producer Marc Sklar

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Clinton is planning to nominate retired Adm. Joseph Prueher as the next U.S. ambassador to China, according to White House officials who say the announcement will "likely" be made shortly after Labor Day.

Officials say the administration finished background checks on Prueher a couple of weeks ago. At the time, Chinese leaders were in the midst of an annual summer retreat.

After they returned, the U.S. notified the Chinese of the decision to go ahead with the nomination. The White House is waiting for a response from Beijing, but administration officials say they have "no reason to expect there will be any objections" to Prueher's nomination. They added that they "haven't heard anything but positive comments from the Chinese."

Host nations can refuse to assent to ambassadorial candidates which would keep them from being nominated.

U.S.-Chinese relations have been strained since the U.S. bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade during the Kosovo conflict. Former U.S. Ambassador to China James Sasser remained inside the U.S. Embassy in Beijing for a couple of days during rock-throwing protests that followed the bombing.

There had been reports that China had objected to Prueher as not having sufficient stature for the post. White House officials say the reports were wrong.

Prueher served as vice chief of Naval Operations and then commander in chief of the Pacific Command prior to his retirement.

His nomination would require Senate approval.