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Powell narrows the gap between China and US

Following top-level talks with Chinese officials, US Secretary of State Colin Powell said yesterday he was able to narrow differences with China on military exports. He also gave assurances that the US missile defense initiative will not pose a threat to China.

Powell told a news conference that the two sides "were able to move the ball forward" on US concerns about Chinese missile and weapons technology exports.

He added that there are still outstanding issues to be resolved.

At issue is China's record of compliance with last November's agreement in which Beijing had promised not to sell missiles or components to countries developing nuclear weapons.

The agreement was a breakthrough because it addressed US concerns over suspected Chinese assistance to Pakistan, Iran and North Korea.

Powell said there was a need for expert consultations to iron out differences on these transfers.

On his first visit to China since he became secretary of state, Powell met with Chinese President Jiang Zemin (江澤民), Premier Zhu Rongji (朱鎔基), Vice Premier Qian Qichen (錢其琛) and Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan (唐家璇).

On Taiwan, Powell defended the US military sales to the nation. "It gives them the confidence they need to engage with China," he said.

Powell said he also raised concerns about what he described as a Chinese military buildup across the Taiwan Strait. In response, he said the Chinese side denied there was any such buildup.

Powell said he offered assurances to China that the missile defense system planned by the Bush administration would be limited. He added that it would not threaten the strategic deterrent of either China or Russia.

He did not say whether his comments softened Chinese opposition to the missile defense plan.

On the whole, Powell was upbeat about the relationship as he ticked off the areas in which the two countries are having or will have broadened contact.

He noted that the human-rights dialogue the US and China have maintained in the past will resume.

Powell also said that a joint military committee will soon reconvene to discuss ways of avoiding a repeat of the April 1 incident when a US reconnaissance plane collided with a Chinese military aircraft and was forced to make an emergency landing on Hainan island.

His meeting with Tang took place just days after an encounter between the two in Vietnam that included a discussion of US-based scholars convicted by China of spying for Taiwan.

China released two of the scholars the following day, helping to improve the atmosphere for yesterday's talks. China's harassment of scholars with ties to the US has been a major irritant to relations.

Powell said that in each of his meetings yesterday, he stressed the need to strengthen the rule of law in China so that there is a reduction of what he sees as wrongful arrests of scholars with links to the US.

"I don't think that message was missed by any of my interlocutors," Powell said.
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