
DATE: Wednesday, October 29, 1997           TAG: 9710290659

SECTION: FRONT                   PAGE: A1   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY ERIKA REIF, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: WILLIAMSBURG                      LENGTH:  116 lines

WHISKED INTO WILLIAMSBURG PROTESTERS ARE KEPT FAR FROM CHINA'S LEADER AS HE VISITS THE COLONIAL CAPITAL.

WILLIAMSBURG - Protesters and curious onlookers who tried to give Chinese President Jiang Zemin a red-white-and-blue welcome Tuesday never got close enough to the communist leader, who was kept away from demonstrators' placards and chanting.

Jiang's visit to the cradle of American democracy, part of a seven-day state visit, was marked by an absence of public contact as he was quickly ushered into and out of the Governor's Palace in Colonial Williamsburg. He paused outside for only a few moments to wave.

Outside the palace, in a public section too far away to allow a view of Jiang, Jon Durfee held up a Clinton-Gore sign covered with a ``sold'' sticker - printed in English and Chinese.

Durfee, who owns Ditto's Refreshment Stand in York County, said he thought he would be able to bring his protest closer to where the Chinese president would pass.

``As a veteran, I'm concerned about our national security being compromised. I think our executive branch has been purchased by the Communist Party and the Lippo Group from Indonesia,'' he said, referring to recent campaign funding controversies.

Nearby, a group of about 50 students from the College of William and Mary gathered.

Chinese language student Eugenia Shawl had her hands folded under her arms against the cold.

``China fascinates me,'' the sophomore said. ``It's so different from Europe and the Westernized world.''

Although Jiang has been to the United States several times, this trip marks the first formal reception given to a Chinese leader since the Tiananmen crackdown in 1989, which turned American public opinion strongly against China's authoritarian government.

Colonial Williamsburg spokeswoman Lorraine Brooks confirmed that planners of the event wanted to avoid contact between Jiang and the protesters.

``We're trying to keep them away from him,'' Brooks said. ``They're not the story. His visit to Colonial Williamsburg is the story - not his policies.''

Indeed, Jiang received a warm welcome inside Colonial Williamsburg.

Jiang and his wife, Wang Yeping, began the day by touring the Governor's Palace at Colonial Williamsburg. The palace was home to Virginia's British governor until the late 18th century.

Officials presented Jiang with a black, gold-trimmed tricorn hat, and his wife a straw hat with flowing ribbons.

The Colonial Williamsburg Fifes and Drums, dressed in red coats and white knee socks, played an 18th century French ``Rondeau'' as the dignitaries entered the palace. Jiang was entertained inside by costumed interpreters of Thomas Jefferson and Patrick Henry and watched a minuet dance.

``Today, when major and profound changes have taken place in the international situation, China and the United States share extensive common interests in maintaining world peace and security, promoting global economic prosperity and protecting the living environment for humanity,'' Jiang said before dining on Virginia ham, roast monkfish and lobster.

After Jiang left the palace, reporters and visitors crowded around officials such as Williamsburg Mayor Gil Granger, who had sat next to Jiang in the palace.

``He was friendly,'' Granger said, noting that Jiang shook hands with each of the musicians and dancers.

Colonial Williamsburg President Robert Wilburn said Jiang asked about Chinese influences on interior woodwork in the palace.

``He was clearly interested in the history and what the significance of the capital was,'' Wilburn said.

Fong Tak Ho, 29, a Chinese journalist from Hong Kong who will follow Jiang's visit for the Hong Kong Standard, an 800,000 circulation English-language newspaper, said he will be watching Jiang's performance closely.

``This is President Jiang's first taste of democracy,'' Ho said. ``He has to be confronted with critics and protesters before he can be claimed as a major player in the international community. He should be able to handle this.''

From the Colonial capital, Jiang flew to Washington for a preliminary meeting with President Clinton Tuesday night as Washington and Beijing stood on the verge of ending eight years of diplomatic estrangement.

Jiang is the first Chinese head of state to visit this country since 1985, when President Li Xiannian went to Washington. Yet Li was hardly China's most powerful leader at the time - a position then held by Deng Xiaoping, who made his own state visit, winning the hearts of many Americans, in 1979.

Jiang's visit promised to bring out one of the capital's biggest demonstrations against a foreign leader, uniting critics on the left and the right against China's policies on abortion, human rights, religious freedom, arms sales, trade, Tibet and Taiwan. A huge demonstration was planned today in Lafayette Park.

Protesters stood on a street corner and yelled ``Free Tibet Now'' and ``Long Live the Dalai Lama'' as Jiang's 20-car motorcade arrived at Blair House, the government guest house across from the White House. The Chinese leader did not answer shouted questions about human rights. MEMO: The Associated Press contributed to this report. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo

BILL TIERNAN/The Virginian-Pilot

Chinese President Jiang Zemin, weating a Colonial hat in

Williamsburg Tuesday with his wife, Wang Yeping, is the first

Chinese head of state to visit this country since 1985.

BILL TIERNAN photos/The Virginian-Pilot

The Governor's Palace, above, was the setting Tuesday morning as

students, the Colonial Williamsburg Fifes and Drums, and Robert

Wilburn, president of Colonial Williamsburg, waited at the gate for

Chinese President Jiang Zemin's arrival. At right, Lobseng Khedub, a

Tibetan who lives in India, came to Williamsburg Tuesday during

Jiang's visit to protest China's rule in Tibet. Colonial

Williamsburg officials kept protesters away from Jiang's entourage.