    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 35, Number 37 (Monday, September 20, 1999)]
    [Pages 1726-1727]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
    Exchange With Reporters Prior to Discussions With President Jiang Zemin
    of China in Auckland, New Zealand

    September 11, 1999

    Situation in East Timor

        Q. Mr. President, on East Timor, what's the next step for the U.S.
    and the international community, now that Indonesia seems to be failing
    to stop the violence there?
        President Clinton. Well, today we suspended all military sales and
    continue to work to try to persuade the Indonesians to support the
    United Nations' operation to go in and help to end the violence and
    secure the safety of the people there. And that's what we have to
    continue to do.
        I think the United Nations will support such an endeavor if the
    Indonesians will request it. And I think it is imperative that they do
    so. And I think we're making headway.
        Q. Is there any time frame for that? Is there any kind of deadline
    on that?
        President Clinton. Well, I think you'll see a development here in
    the next couple of days. I think something will happen. I'll be
    surprised if it doesn't. We're working--not just the United States,
    people all over the world are working very hard on it. And I think
    people in Asia are very concerned about it.

    China-U.S. Relations

        Q. Mr. President, how are U.S.-Chinese relations now?

    [[Page 1727]]

        President Clinton. Well, I don't want to speak for President Jiang,
    but from my point of view, I'm eager to get on with it and have this
    meeting. [Laughter]
        Q. Will you be able to get a WTO deal, sir?
        President Clinton. Certainly hope so.

    Taiwan

        Q. Mr. President, what's your message when it comes to Taiwan?
        President Clinton. My message is that our policy has not and will
    not change. We favor one China. We favor a peaceful approach to working
    out the differences. We favor the cross-strait dialog. Our policy has
    not changed, and it will not change.
        Q. President Jiang, are you sticking with your threat to use
    military force against Taiwan, sir?
        President Jiang. Our policy on Taiwan is a consistent one. That is,
    one, peaceful unification, one country-two systems. However, if there
    were to be any foreign intervention, or if there were to be Taiwan
    independence, then we would not undertake to renounce the use of force.

    Note: The exchange began at 5:18 p.m. in the Drawing Room at the
    Government House. A tape was not available for verification of the
    content of this exchange.