[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 189 (Wednesday, November 29, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S17788-S17789]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  CHINA-UNITED STATES TIES WARM A BIT AS CHINA-TAIWAN RELATIONS CHILL

  Mr. SIMON. Mr. President, I have felt for some time that the United 
States made a mistake in recognizing the People's Republic of China and 
derecognizing Taiwan, sometimes referred to as the Republic of China.
  My position for a long time was that we should recognize both Chinas, 
as we recognized both Germanys. That did not prevent East Germany and 
West Germany from uniting as one country.
  But when the mistake was made of playing the China card, in large 
measure in response to the Soviet Union and its perceived threat, we 
had set up a situation that potentially could mean military trouble in 
Asia.
  The New York Times carried a story on Saturday, November 18, by 
Patrick E. Tyler that talks about an improvement in United States ties 
but a worsening of China-Taiwan ties.
  I am concerned about any leadership that could emerge in dictatorial 
China that might be a threat to the free Government of Taiwan.
  I hope that our military leaders and our diplomatic leaders will not 
pussyfoot around in making clear that there would be serious 
repercussions if China were to invade Taiwan.
  I ask that the article be printed in the Record.
  The article follows:

       China-U.S. Ties Warm a Bit as China-Taiwan Relations Chill

                         (By Patrick E. Tyler)

       Beijing, Nov. 17.--China and the United States made new 
     progress today in resuming a program of high-level military 
     contacts by agreeing to an exchange of visits of their top 
     military officers next year.
       But American defense officials visiting here this week 
     reported that during private conversations they encountered 
     trenchant rhetoric and signs of unrelenting determination by 
     Beijing's military and civilian leaders to undermine the rule 
     of the President of Taiwan, Lee Teng-hui.
       In recent days, China has restated its intention to use all 
     means, including military intimidation and force if 
     necessary, to end what Beijing considers a drive by Mr. Lee 
     to achieve independence for Taiwan.
       Mr. Lee insists he is only seeking greater international 
     recognition for the island, which has been estranged from the 
     mainland since the nationalists fled there after their defeat 
     by the Communists in 1949.
       As three days of talks ended, the Pentagon was receiving 
     reports that China had begun a new military exercise off its 
     southeastern coast near Taiwan, military officials here said.
       It followed a Taiwanese drill earlier in the week intended 
     to demonstrate the island's ability to repulse an invasion 
     from the mainland.
       The visit of the American delegation led by Joseph S. Nye, 
     the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security 
     Affairs, was the first by American military officials since 
     the diplomatic rift that followed a White House decision to 
     allow Mr. Lee to make a private visit to the United States in 
     June.
       And it demonstrated that United States-China relations are 
     recovering at a time of unremitting military tension across 
     the Taiwan Strait that could lead to another rupture in 
     relations and, perhaps, military conflict.
       ``The Chinese have a military operation starting right 
     now,'' an official traveling with Mr. Nye said tonight. ``And 
     what is clear is that China is brushing off military plans 
     and operational contingencies that they haven't thought about 
     since the 1950's. This is an issue we are very concerned 
     about.''
       Mr. Nye and officials traveling with him said that 
     communication between China and the United States is 
     improving in some areas, but ``there was no give whatsoever'' 
     on Taiwan, one official said.
       ``Every single person referred to Taiwan, and their point 
     was that every Chinese is united on this question,'' the 
     official said.
       ``It was interesting because they made a comparison with 
     our system. They said you may have differences in your 
     Congress, but in China we are all united that there is only 
     one China and Taiwan is part of China.''
       Chinese military leaders, during extensive closed door 
     talks with the American delegation, engaged in ``subtle 
     exploration'' of how the United States would respond in the 
     event of a military crisis over Taiwan, one official said.
       But the American officials refused to discuss United States 
     contingency planning. ``We stand for peaceful resolution of 
     disputes across the Taiwan Strait,'' Mr. Nye said at a news 
     conference today.
       Any use of force by China against Taiwan ``would be a 
     serious mistake'' and, he added, continued military exercises 
     near Taiwan ``are not helpful.''
       Mr. Nye announced that the Chinese Defense Minister, Gen. 
     Chi Haotian, would visit Washington next year and that Gen. 
     John 

[[Page S 17789]]
     Shalikashvili, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, would pay a 
     reciprocal visit to Beijing.
       Visits by American and Chinese warships to each other's 
     ports will also resume, Mr. Nye said.

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