China, U.S. set meeting
Taiwan will be on the agenda
March 19, 1996
Web posted at:WASHINGTON (CNN) -- U.S. Secretary of State Warren Christopher will meet with Chinese Foreign Minister Qian Qichen to discuss Taiwan relations and other issues.
The session announced Tuesday is scheduled for April 21 in The Hague, Netherlands.
State Department spokesman Nicholas Burns says the meeting will cover the full range of U.S.-Chinese relations, including the heightened tensions over Taiwan.
Other agenda items will cover the Chinese transfer of nuclear material to Pakistan, human rights, economic trade and the piracy of U.S.-copyrighted goods such as musical compact discs.
China hopes the meeting will reduce misunderstanding and "promote U.S. adherence to the three joint communiqués" governing Taiwan's status and Sino-U.S. relations, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Shen Guofang.
Earlier Tuesday, Shen criticized the United States "for grossly interfering in China's internal affairs and for the brazen show of force." He was reacting to patrols by U.S. naval ships in the waters near Taiwan.
China and the United States have exchanged bitter words in recent weeks over Chinese military exercises near the island nation that China considers a renegade province. China says the war games are meant to intimidate Taiwan before its first direct presidential election on Saturday.
A recent CNN/USA Today poll shows Americans are deeply divided over what America should do if China attacks Taiwan. Forty-six percent of Americans polled said the United States should not use force to defend Taiwan, while 43 percent said the U.S. should.
Last week, Qian said he probably would meet Christopher in April. Qian said he would protest U.S. interference in China's relationship with Taiwan.
In related news, U.S. and Taiwan officials met Tuesday to discuss possible new American arms sales to Taipei. The one-day meeting is an annual affair, but has taken on added significance this year because of the tensions between Taiwan and China.
Reuters contributed to this report.
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