[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1998, Book I)]
[June 27, 1998]
[Pages 1069-1076]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



The President's News Conference With President Jiang Zemin of China in Beijing
June 27, 1998

    President Jiang. Ladies and gentlemen, just now I've held official 
talks with President Clinton. The two sides have held an extensive and 
indepth exchange of views on China-U.S. relations and the major 
international and regional issues. The talks were positive, 
constructive, and productive.
    The successful exchange of visits between the two heads of state of 
China and the United States marks a new stage of growth for China-U.S. 
relations. This not only serves the common interests of China and the 
United States, but also will be of important significance to promoting 
peace, stability, and the prosperity in Asia-Pacific and the world at 
large.
    Peace and the development are the main themes of contemporary times. 
In the new historical conditions, the common interests between China and 
the United States are increasing, not decreasing. The foundation for 
cooperation between the two countries is reinforcing, not weakening.
    Both sides believe that China and the United States, as the 
permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, should continue to work 
together to promote peace and security in the

[[Page 1070]]

world and Asia-Pacific in particular, to ease and eliminate all kinds of 
tensions and to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass 
destruction, to strengthen the efforts in protecting environment, 
combating international crime, drug trafficking, and international 
terrorism. Our two sides have agreed to further step up cooperation and 
the dialog between the two countries on major international issues.
    China-U.S. relations are improving and growing. The cooperation 
between the two sides in many areas has made important progress. 
President Clinton and I have decided that China and the United States 
will not target the strategic nuclear weapons under their respective 
control at each other. This demonstrates to the entire world that China 
and the United States are partners, not adversaries.
    I hereby wish to reiterate that since the very first day when China 
came into possession of nuclear weapons, China has undertaken not to be 
the first to use nuclear weapons under any circumstances.
    President Clinton and I have reached a broad range of agreements and 
consensus on further increasing exchanges in cooperation between China 
and the United States in all areas in our bilateral relations. We have 
agreed to take positive steps to promote the growth of the mutually 
beneficial economic cooperation and trade between China and the United 
States and to expand the exchanges and the cooperation between the two 
countries in the energy, environment, scientific, educational, cultural, 
health, legal, and the military fields, and also to enhance the people-
to-people exchanges and friendship.
    We have also agreed to enhance the consultations and the cooperation 
between China and the United States on the issues of disarmament, arms 
control, and nonproliferation. And we have issued joint statements on 
the BWC protocol, on the question of the antipersonnel landmines, and on 
the question of South Asia.
    The Taiwan question is the most important and the most sensitive 
issue at the core of China-U.S. relations. We hope that the U.S. side 
will adhere to the principles set forth in three China-U.S. joint 
communiques and the joint China-U.S. statement, as well as the relevant 
commitments it has made in the interest of a smooth growth of China-U.S. 
relations.
    The improvement and the growth of China-U.S. relations have not come 
by easily. It is the result of the concerted efforts of the Governments 
and people of our two countries. So we should all the more treasure this 
good result.
    As China and the United States have different social systems, 
ideologies, values, and culture traditions, we have some difference of 
views on certain issues. However, they should not become the obstacles 
in the way of the growth of China-U.S. relations. The world is a 
colorful one. The development parts of the countries in the world should 
be chosen by the people of the countries concerned.
    China and the United States should view and handle the bilateral 
relations from a long-term and strategic perspective. We should promote 
the growth of China-U.S. relations in the spirit of mutual respect, 
equality, mutual benefit, seeking common ground while putting aside 
differences and developing cooperation. I believe that through the 
concerted efforts of both sides, we will make constant progress in the 
direction of building a constructive, strategic partnership between 
China and the United States oriented towards the 21st century.
    President Clinton. Thank you, Mr. President. And I also thank the 
Chinese people for their warm welcome to me, to my family, and to our 
delegation.
    Over the past 5 years, President Jiang and I have met seven times. 
Mr. President, your leadership is helping us to transform our nations' 
relationship for the future. Clearly, a stable, open, prosperous China, 
shouldering its responsibilities for a safer world, is good for America. 
Nothing makes that point better than today's agreement not to target our 
nuclear missiles at each other. We also agreed to do more to shore up 
stability in Asia, on the Korean Peninsula, and the Indian subcontinent.
    I reaffirmed our longstanding ``one China'' policy to President 
Jiang and urged the pursuit of cross-strait discussions recently resumed 
as the best path to a peaceful resolution. In a similar vein, I urged 
President Jiang to assume a dialog with the Dalai Lama in return for the recognition that Tibet is a part of 
China and in recognition of the unique cultural and religious heritage 
of that region.
    I welcome the progress we made today in nonproliferation, including 
China's decision to actively study joining the Missile Technology 
Control Regime, our joint commitment not to provide assistance to 
ballistic missile programs in South Asia, and President Jiang's 
statement

[[Page 1071]]

last week that China will not sell missiles to Iran.
    We also welcome the steps China recently has taken to tighten 
nuclear export controls, to strengthen controls on the export of 
chemicals that can be turned into weapons, and to work jointly with us 
to strengthen the Biological Weapons Convention.
    As the President said, we are also working together against 
international crime, drug trafficking, alien smuggling, stepping up our 
scientific cooperation, which already has produced remarkable 
breakthroughs in areas including the fight against birth defects like 
spina bifida. We're helping to eradicate polio and working to predict 
and to mitigate national disasters. And perhaps most important over the 
long run, we are committed to working together on clean energy to 
preserve our natural environment, a matter of urgent concern to both our 
nations. I am also very pleased by our cooperation on rule of law 
programs, from training lawyers and judges to providing legal assistance 
to the poor.
    President Jiang and I agree on the importance of China's entry into 
the World Trade Organization. I regret we did not make more progress on 
this front, and we must recommit ourselves to achieving that goal on 
strong terms. We agree that we need to work together to avoid another 
round of destabilizing currency devaluations in the region and to 
restore economic growth.
    As you can see, we are working together in many areas of 
cooperation. We have developed a relationship of openness and candor. 
When we differ, as we do from time to time, we speak openly and honestly 
in an effort to understand our differences and, if possible, to work 
toward a common approach to resolving them.
    It is well known that the principal area of our difference in recent 
years has been over human rights questions. America recognizes and 
applauds China's economic and social transformation which has expanded 
the rights of its citizens by lifting hundreds of millions from poverty, 
providing them greater access to information, giving them village 
elections, greater freedom to travel and to choose their own jobs, and 
better education for their children.
    As I said again to President Jiang, we Americans also firmly believe 
that individual rights, including the freedom of speech, association, 
and religion, are very important, not only to those who exercise them 
but also to nations whose success in the 21st century depends upon 
widespread individual knowledge, creativity, free exchange, and 
enterprise.
    Therefore, we welcome China's decision to sign the International 
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the recent release of several 
prominent political dissidents, the recent visit China graciously 
accorded American religious leaders, and the resumption of a human 
rights dialog between China and the United States.
    Earlier this morning, during my official welcome, I could hear and 
see the many echoes of China's past and the call of its promising 
future, for Tiananmen Square is an historical place. There, 100 years 
ago, China's quest for constitutional government was born. There, in 
1919, young people rallied against foreign occupation and launched a 
powerful movement for China's political and cultural renewal. There, in 
1976, public mourning for Zhou Enlai led to the Cultural Revolution's 
end and the beginning of your remarkable transformation. And there, 9 
years ago, Chinese citizens of all ages raised their voices for 
democracy.
    For all of our agreements, we still disagree about the meaning of 
what happened then. I believe and the American people believe that the 
use of force and the tragic loss of life was wrong. I believe and the 
American people believe that freedom of speech, association, and 
religion are, as recognized by U.N. Charter, the right of people 
everywhere and should be protected by their governments.
    It was to advance these rights that our Founding Fathers in our 
Declaration of Independence pledged our lives, our fortunes, our sacred 
honor. Fifty years ago, the U.N. recognized these rights as the basic 
freedoms of people everywhere.
    The question for us now is, how shall we deal with such 
disagreements and still succeed in the important work of deepening our 
friendship and our sense of mutual respect?
    First, we Americans must acknowledge the painful moments in our own 
history when fundamental human rights were denied. We must say that we 
know, still, we have to continue our work to advance the dignity and 
freedom and equality of our own people. And second, we must understand 
and respect the enormous challenges China has faced in trying to move 
forward against great odds, with a clear memory of the setbacks suffered 
in past periods of instability.

[[Page 1072]]

    Finally, it is important that whatever our disagreements over past 
action, China and the United States must go forward on the right side of 
history for the future sake of the world. The forces of history have 
brought us to a new age of human possibility, but our dreams can only be 
recognized by nations whose citizens are both responsible and free.
    Mr. President, that is the future America seeks to build with China, 
in partnership and honest friendship.
    Tomorrow, Hillary and I will visit the Great Wall. The wall's 
builders knew they were building a permanent monument, even if they were 
unable to see it finished in their lifetimes. Likewise, we know we are 
building a friendship that will serve our descendants well, even if we, 
ourselves, will not see its full development across the next century and 
into the new millennium. Our friendship may never be perfect; no 
friendship is. But I hope it will last forever.
    President Jiang. Now President Clinton and I are prepared to answer 
your questions, and now I'd like to give the first question to President 
Clinton.
    President Clinton. Which--Chinese journalists, one of you? In the 
back there, yes? Yes, ma'am, go ahead.

Asian Financial Situation

    Q. Thank you. I'm a correspondent with Phoenix TV of Hong Kong. In 
the recent Asian financial crisis, the Chinese Government has pledged to 
maintain the value of RMB Asian currency and, thus, making positive 
contribution to stabilizing the situation in Asia. And this has 
attracted positive reaction from the international community and from 
the U.S. Government. However, yesterday, the exchange rate between 
Japanese yen and the U.S. dollar dropped again to a low of 143 yen 
against one dollar, and which was closed at 141 yen against one dollar. 
So, what specific common measures are the Chinese and the U.S. 
Government prepared to take to stabilize the financial situation in Asia 
and the world?
    The President. Well, first of all, let me agree with you. I think 
that China has shown great statesmanship and strength in making a strong 
contribution to the stability not only of the Chinese people and their 
economy but the entire region, by maintaining the value of its currency.
    The United States, as you know, has worked hard to try to support 
the stability of the Japanese yen and to help growth resume in Japan. I 
think that what we have agreed to do is to continue to do whatever we 
can to promote stability and to support policies within Japan that will 
restore confidence in the economy, get investment going again, and get 
growth going.
    The key here, I believe, is for the plans to reform the financial 
institutions in Japan and take other steps that will get growth going 
and get investments going in Japan to be made. I think that, ultimately, 
President Jiang and I would give anything to be able to just wave a wand 
and have all of this go away. We are not the only actors in this drama, 
and a lot of this must be done by the Japanese Government and the 
Japanese people. We can be supportive, but they have to make the right 
decisions.

Human Rights

    Q. My question to President Jiang and also to President Clinton is, 
we know that there were four dissidents in Xi'an who were arrested 
earlier, and three were released, and one of them is still under 
detainment. And I would like to know if you talked about the issue. And 
what about the rest 2,000 dissidents who are being reported still under 
imprisonment right now in China? Can both of you elaborate on that? 
Thank you.
    President Jiang. In our talks just now, President Clinton raised 
this issue. We adopt an attitude of extending very warm welcome to the 
visit to China by President Clinton.
    As for the matter you raised, I think you're referring to the 
incident in Xi'an, and I think in China there is no question that there 
is no restriction whatsoever on the coverage and interview by the 
reporters and the correspondents within the scope of law. But as for 
some activities that have been detrimental or have prejudiced the 
security, then the local authorities should take measures to deal with 
them, and it is also understandable.
    As for the question you raised, actually, I do not have very 
detailed information in this regard. But as for the latter part of your 
question concerning 2,000 dissidents, I think in China we have our laws. 
And in China's constitution, it is clearly stipulated that the Chinese 
citizens have the freedom of speech, but any law-breaking activities 
must be dealt with according to law. I think this is true in any country 
of rule

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of law. And I think China's judicial departments will deal with the 
matter according to law.
    I want to add that I believe that the vast majority of the 
correspondents and the reporters are willing to promote the friendship 
between China and the United States through President Clinton's visit to 
China this time. However, before President Clinton's visit, I read some 
reports from some media and newspapers saying--alleging China had been 
involved in so-called political contributions in the United States. I 
really think it very absurd and ridiculous, and I think they are sheer 
fabrications. China can never do such a thing, and China never 
interferes in other countries' internal affairs.
    Actually, at the talks this morning, President Clinton also asked me 
of this question. And I told him that after hearing of such an 
allegation, we conducted very earnest investigation into the matter. And 
the results of the investigation shows that there was never such a 
thing.
    Recently, in my meetings with many foreign visitors and visiting 
leaders of other countries, I often said to them that as countries in 
the world have different social systems and values, it is something that 
should be allowed that they may have different understandings about one 
fact. And this actually, itself, is a representation and the 
manifestation of democracy.
    However, what is important is that the fact itself should not be 
distorted.
    I'm sorry I've taken up too much of the time, and I now invite 
President Clinton to say a few words.
    President Clinton. Well, we did discuss the questions you raised. 
And of course, I made my views known about the recent detentions 
yesterday. On the larger question you raised, I actually made a couple 
of specific and practical suggestions about how we might take our dialog 
farther there.
    There are some people who are incarcerated now for offenses no 
longer on the books in China, reflecting real progress in present 
Chinese practice, and the Chinese, in my view--we should acknowledge 
that. But the question then arises, is there some way that these people 
might be released? Is there some procedure through which we could move? 
There are some people imprisoned for nonviolent activities in June of 
'89; is there something that could be done there?
    There are some other practical things we discussed, which I think it 
would be premature to ask the Chinese Government to make a statement on 
now because we just have had these discussions. But I want to say to all 
of you that the atmosphere--whatever your position on these issues is, 
and particularly if you agree with me, I think you should at least 
appreciate the fact that we now have an atmosphere in which it is 
possible for us to be open and honest and in great detail about this and 
that there are legitimate and honest differences in the way we look at 
this. But I believe that we are making progress, and I believe that we 
will make more.
    I remember the things that I specified in my statement about that. 
You can see that neither one of us are shy about being strong about how 
we believe about this. And I think that we have them in the public 
debate now, we have them in the private discussions, and we just have to 
keep pushing forward in trying to work through it.

Nuclear Detargeting Agreement

    Q.  President Jiang spoke of China's position against the first use 
of nuclear weapons, and the policy of the United States does not agree 
with. Was this discussed in the context of negotiations on the 
detargeting agreement? And where are any U.S. concessions in order to 
obtain the detargeting agreement?
    President Clinton. Well, the short answer to your question, and the 
accurate one, is no, but I don't want it to be a misleading answer. That 
is, you well understand that our position on that issue is a product of 
decades of experience in a former time. We have not changed our 
position, nor are we prepared to do so, on that.
    But this was a mutual decision we made because we both felt that, 
number one, if we detargeted, we would completely eliminate the prospect 
ever of any kind of accidental launch, and number two, we would take one 
more step in showing mutual confidence and trust in one another, and 
number three, it would be a helpful signal as a counterweight to the 
recent nuclear tests in India and Pakistan. And so we agreed that it was 
in both our interests to do this on its own terms.
    President Jiang. I would like to make a brief explanation. As I 
stated just now, President Clinton and I decided that China and the 
United States would not target the strategic nuclear weapons under their 
respective control at each other. Full stop--that's a full stop. And 
then this demonstrates to the entire world that China

[[Page 1074]]

and the United States are partners, not adversaries. Full stop again. 
[Laughter] And then I said, I hereby reiterate that since the very first 
day that China came into possession of nuclear weapons, China has 
undertaken not to be the first to use nuclear weapons under any 
circumstances. Full stop. That's my view. That's our view.

Human Rights

    Q. I'm a correspondent with Xinhua news agency. My question is to 
President Jiang. At his opening statement, President Clinton expressed 
appreciation of the achievements made by the Chinese Government in 
respecting human rights. At the same time, he also said that China and 
the United States also had difference of views over this matter. So my 
question is, what is the position of the Chinese Government on the human 
rights issue?
    President Jiang. China and the United States have differences of 
views and also have common ground on the human rights issue. More than 
2,000 years ago, a great thinker of China's Han Dynasty, Dong Zhongshu, 
once said, ``Of all the living things nurtured between heaven and the 
Earth, the most valuable is human beings.'' So the Chinese nation always 
respects and maintains the dignity and rights of the people. Today the 
Chinese Government solemnly commits itself to the promotion and the 
protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms.
    The United States is the most developed country in the world, with a 
per capita GDP approaching 30,000 U.S. dollars, while China is a 
developing country with a population of 1.2 billion, with a per capita 
GDP of less than 700 U.S. dollars. As the two countries differ in social 
system, ideology, historical tradition, and cultural background, the two 
countries have different means and ways in realizing human rights and 
fundamental freedoms. So it's nothing strange that we may have some 
difference of views over some issues.
    China stresses that the top priority should be given to the right to 
subsistence and the right to development. Meanwhile, efforts should be 
made to strengthen democracy and the legal system building, and to 
protect the economic, social, cultural, civil, and the political rights 
of the people.
    I listened very carefully to what President Clinton said just now, 
and I noticed that he made mention of the political disturbances 
happened in Tiananmen in 1989, and he also told the history of Tiananmen 
and told of the things that happened in Tiananmen.
    With regard to the political disturbances in 1989, the Chinese 
people have long drawn a historical conclusion. During my visit to the 
United States last year and also on many international occasions, I have 
stated our position that with regard to the political disturbances in 
1989, had the Chinese Government not taken the resolute measures, then 
we could not have enjoyed the stability that we are enjoying today.
    China is a socialist country in which its people are masters of the 
nation. The Chinese people can elect their own representatives to the 
people's congresses through direct or indirect means, and they can fully 
express their views and exercise their political rights. In the two 
decades since the reform and opening up program was started, the 
National People's Congress of China has adopted more than 320 laws and 
acts, thus, constantly strengthening the legal protection of the 
democracy, fundamental freedoms, and the various rights enjoyed by the 
Chinese people. Over the past two decades, another 200 million people in 
China were lifted out of poverty.
    No country's human rights situation is perfect. Since the founding 
of new China, the fundamental changes and the tremendous achievements 
that have been achieved, that have been scored in the human rights 
conditions in China are for all to see.
    I'd like to know whether President Clinton will have anything more 
to add.
    President Clinton. I would like to add a comment. First of all, I 
think this debate and discussion today has been a healthy thing and a 
good thing. Secondly, I think to understand the priority that each 
country attaches to its own interpretation of this issue of human 
rights, you have to understand something of our history.
    The Chinese who are here understand better than I the price paid 
over time at various moments in history for disruption and upheaval in 
China, so there is an understandable desire to have stability in the 
country. Every country wants stability.
    Our country was founded by people who felt they were abused by royal 
powers, by people in power, and they wanted to protect their personal 
liberties by putting limits on government. And they understood--they 
understood clearly,

[[Page 1075]]

that any system--because human beings are imperfect, any system can be 
abused.
    So the question for all societies going forward into the 21st 
century is, which is the better gamble? If you have a lot of personal 
freedom, some people may abuse it. But if you are so afraid of personal 
freedom because of the abuse that you limit people's freedom too much, 
then you pay, I believe, an even greater price in a world where the 
whole economy is based on ideas and information and exchange and debate 
and children everywhere dreaming dreams and feeling they can live their 
dreams out.
    So I am trying to have a dialog here that will enable both of us to 
move forward so that the Chinese people will get the best possible 
result. I believe stability in the 21st century will require high levels 
of freedom.
    President Jiang. I'm sorry, I have to take up an additional 5 
minutes. [Laughter] So I'd like to say a few words on Dalai Lama. 
President Clinton is also interested in this question, in Dalai Lama. 
Actually, since the Dalai Lama left in 1959, earth-shaking changes have 
taken place in Tibet.
    First, the system of theocracy has forever become bygones, though it 
is unfortunate that the disappearance of this theocracy was much later 
than the demise of theocracy in Europe, that's before the Renaissance. 
And the more than 1 million serfs under the rule of the Dalai Lama were 
liberated. In 1990 when I was in Tibet, I went to visit the liberated 
serfs. And now the system of national autonomy is in practice in Tibet, 
and the people there, they have their Tibetan autonomous region 
government.
    Since I came to work in the central government, I have urged the 
rest 29 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions to assist 
Tibet in its development, even including those provinces that are not 
very developed, such as Qinghai Province. So all together, nearly 8 
billion RMB-yuan financial resources were raised, and already 62 
projects have been completed in Tibet.
    As for the freedom of religious belief, there is fierce stipulations 
in our constitution for the protection of religious belief, and this 
also includes in Tibet. And we have also spent a lot of money in 
renovating the lamaseries and temples in Tibet. And we have spent 100 
million RMB-yuan and one ton of gold in renovating the Potala Palace.
    Just now President Clinton also mentioned the Tibetan issue and the 
dialog with the Dalai Lama. Actually, as long as the Dalai Lama can 
publicly make a statement and a commitment that Tibet is an inalienable 
part of China and he must also recognize Taiwan as a province of China, 
then the door to dialog and negotiation is open. Actually, we are having 
several channels of communications with the Dalai Lama. So I hope the 
Dalai Lama will make positive response in this regard.
    Finally, I want to emphasize that according to China's constitution, 
the freedom of religious belief in Tibet and also throughout China is 
protected. But as the President of the People's Republic of China and as 
a Communist member, a member of the Communist Party, I myself am an 
atheist. But this will by no means affect my respect for the religious 
freedom in Tibet.
    But still, I have a question. That is, during my visit to the United 
States last year and also during my previous visits to other European 
countries, I found that although the education in science and technology 
have developed to a very high level and people are now enjoying modern 
civilization, but still quite a number of them have a belief in Lamaism. 
So this is a question that I'm still studying and still looking into. I 
want to find out the reason why.
    I think President Clinton is a strong defender of the American 
interests, and I am a strong defender of the Chinese interests. But 
despite that, we still can have very friendly exchanges of views and 
discussions. And I think that is democracy. And I want to stress that, 
actually, there are a lot of areas in which we can learn from each 
other.
    If you agree, we will finish this. [Laughter]
    President Clinton. I agree, but I have--you have to let me say one 
thing about the Dalai Lama, since you brought it 
up. [Laughter]
    First, I agree that Tibet is a part of China, an autonomous region 
of China. And I can understand why the acknowledgement of that would be 
a precondition of dialog with the Dalai Lama. But 
I also believe that there are many, many Tibetans who still revere the 
Dalai Lama and view him as their spiritual leader. President Jiang 
pointed out that he has a few followers of Tibetan 
Buddhism even in the United States and Europe. But most of his followers 
have not given up their own religious faith. He has followers who are 
Christians--supporters, excuse

[[Page 1076]]

me, not followers, supporters--who are Christians, who are Jews, who are 
Muslims, who believe in the unity of God, and who believe he is a holy 
man.
    But for us, the question is not fundamentally religious; it is 
political. That is, we believe that other people should have the right 
to fully practice their religious beliefs and that if he, in good faith, presents himself on those terms, it is a 
legitimate thing for China to engage him in dialog.
    And let me say something that will perhaps be unpopular with 
everyone. I have spent time with the Dalai Lama. I 
believe him to be an honest man, and I believe if he had a conversation 
with President Jiang, they would like each other very much. [Laughter]

Note: The President's 161st news conference began at 12:05 p.m. in the 
Western Hall of the Great Hall of the People. President Jiang spoke in 
Chinese, and his remarks were translated by an interpreter.