China rejects U.S. bombing explanation

Turning a joint news conference with Secretary of State Madeleine Albright into a public lecture, Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan said he hoped the United States would take "effective measures" on the bombing.

Albright seemed at a loss to counter Tang's rejection of the U.S. explanation that the embassy bombing was a mistake. "I must say it's difficult when one is giving the true explanation for a situation when the other side does not accept it," she said.

Tang also assailed the president of Taiwan, Lee Teng-hui, as a troublemaker for trying to promote a special state-to-state relationship with China.

"We hope the United States will face the dangerous nature of his separatist remarks squarely and do nothing to puff him up," Tang said. "For instance, no arms should be sold to Taiwan."

The Chinese official's jabs at the news conference with Albright contrasted with announcement in Washington of a renewed effort to bring China into the World Trade Organization and Albright's own emphasis on U.S.-Chinese cooperation on East Timor, North Korea and in Asia generally.

The United States last month gave China $4.5 million in compensation intended for the families of the three people killed and 27 injured in the bombing, which occurred May 7 during NATO's conflict with Yugoslavia that forced Serb troops and special police out of Kosovo.

"I can only repeat the true story that it was a mistake and make very clear how sorry we are about it," Albright said. State Department lawyers will be sent to Beijing to discuss compensation for the damage and also for damage caused by demonstrations against the U.S. Embassy in the Chinese capital, she said.

The two then met for 90 minutes and Tang did not repeat his accusation privately to Albright, a senior U.S. official said. Indeed, Tang and Albright agreed there was a need to build up momentum toward stronger ties, said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The trade talks will be held in Washington on Monday and Tuesday, with U.S. Trade Representative Charlene Barshefsky and Chinese Trade Minister Shi Guangsheng heading the delegations.

House Majority Leader Dick Armey (R-Texas) welcomed the news, although he and Senate Majority leader Trent Lott (R-Miss.) said this week there was little or no chance that Congress would vote this year for China's admission to the 134-nation WTO.

"When these negotiations are completed, I look forward to working hard, on behalf of the Chinese people, to ensure congressional approval of WTO accession," Armey said yesterday in a statement.

Tang took the offensive in an opening statement at the news conference, even before reporters asked him about the spy inquiry and the embassy bombing.

While there are opportunities in the U.S.-Chinese relationship, he said, "there are obstructions that should not exist."

Then, in response to a question, he rejected as "extremely irresponsible and false" any allegations the Chinese may have obtained secret information about the design of the most advanced U.S. nuclear warhead, the W-88.

Attorney General Janet Reno and FBI Director Louis Freeh have expanded an inquiry that was centered on mishandling of classified material at the Los Alamos National Laboratory.

Tang also lit into the United States over its explanation that the embassy bombing was a mistake.

"We cannot accept the explanation," he said.

Tang welcomed moves by the United States to compensate the families of the victims, but he insisted "the United States is obligated to offer a more satisfactory explanation."

Faulty maps and other errors were said by the United States to be the reason for the attack.

On another touchy front, Tang criticized Taiwan's President Lee for saying relations with China should be considered on a "state-to-state or at least special state-to-state" basis.

China considers democratically ruled Taiwan a renegade province that must be reunited with the mainland.

Albright reiterated that U.S. policy is to recognize only one China, and she said China and Taiwan should be concentrating now on helping the people of Taiwan to recover from the earthquake that struck Monday.

09-24-99