Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, August 2, 1995 TAG: 9508020018
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-9 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BILL BRADLEY
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The Chinese leadership's ability to manage the U.S. relationship is complicated by the quiet struggle to succeed Deng Ziaoping among President and Communist Party General Secretary Jiang Zemin, Premier Li Peng and National People's Congress Chairman Qiao Shi. All decisions taken and implemented by the leadership are influenced by this power struggle.
The succession to Deng coincides with a period of Chinese assertiveness. For more than a decade, double-digit economic growth has translated into renewed national dignity after a century of division, war and poverty. Any leadership in Beijing, secure or shaky, will insist on greater respect from all countries, including the United States.
The current problems would merely be frictions in the normal course of a difficult and complex relationship were it not for the Taiwan factor. Taiwan independence is casus belli for any leadership in Beijing. While the rulers of the People's Republic are unlikely to move against Taiwan simply to change the status quo, they would almost certainly go to war to prevent Taiwan's formal independence.
Provided the independence red line is respected, China has proved willing to accept substantial economic, social and administrative links with Taiwan. For example, bilateral trade, conducted primarily via Hong Kong, reached $17 billion in 1994. Taiwan's investment on the mainland tops $20 billion.
But China's leadership reacts viscerally to actions that it believes threaten the status quo. Beijing's fury over last month's personal visit to the United States by Taiwan's President Lee Teng-hui has dominated the U.S.-China relationship ever since.
The United States has always maintained its right to have cultural, commercial and other unofficial relations with the people of Taiwan. The People's Republic has understood and, grudgingly, accepted this condition, provided it stopped short of a ``Two China'' or ``One China, One Taiwan'' policy.
President Lee's visit to attend his college reunion was within that framework. But the administration first ruled that such a visit was unacceptable, which suggested to Beijing a new departure in U.S.-Taiwan relations. The subsequent flip-flop confirmed Beijing's worst suspicions.
Beijing's paranoia was only increased by Newt Gingrich's irresponsible July 8 comment on national television advocating establishment of diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Beijing heard this as the speaker of the House advocating an end to a 23-year understanding.
We must act now to restore the framework for U.S.-China relations. Tension over Taiwan increases mainland China's resistance to internal and external change, which is bad for U.S. interests in Asia, bad for human rights in China and bad for Taiwan.
The U.S. relationship with the People's Republic was founded on a ``One China'' policy as defined in three core communiques: the Shanghai Communique of Feb. 28, 1972; the Joint Communique on the establishment of diplomatic relations of Jan. 1, 1979; and the Joint Communique of Aug. 17, 1982. All presidents since Richard Nixon have reaffirmed the ``One China'' policy. President Reagan, for example, wrote Deng Ziaoping on April 5, 1982, stating flatly that ``there is only one China.''
We must now stabilize the relationship by reaffirming that policy. President Clinton must do so at the highest level, and Congress must add its confirmation. There must be no confusion on this point.
The U.S.-China relationship will not be easy as long as China sells weapons to international outlaws, obstructs free trade and denies its people fundamental human rights. But this relationship is essential as long as the United States' interests require peace, security and stability in Asia. We can manage our differences through patient and persistent engagement, but only if the framework is sound.
Bill Bradley is a Democratic senator from New Jersey.
- Los Angeles Times
by CNB