Preparing for his first visit to the US as China's top economic official, Premier Wen Jiabao (溫家寶) faces a full slate of difficult issues -- from mounting trade tensions to the potentially explosive question of Taiwan.
Wen, whose four-day trip begins Dec. 7, will meet US President George W. Bush in Washington and visit New York and Boston, Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said on Tuesday.
Among the most pressing points is Taiwan, a "very core and sensitive issue between the two countries," Liu said.
Trade tension
He did not say whether Wen would bring up tensions over China's rising trade surplus. But the subject seems inevitable, given the increasing rancor of the spat as Washington pushes Beijing to move faster in meeting its market-opening commitments to the World Trade Organization.
US officials have warned that failure to act could jeopardize Beijing's access to American markets. They also want China to ease controls on its currency and say its fixed exchange rate is unfairly low, hurting US companies trying to compete with Chinese exports.
Apparently trying to mollify American anger, Wen said in an interview published Sunday in The Washington Post that his country does not want "excessive and long-term" trade surpluses.
"We are willing to open up our markets to buy more from the United States and other countries," he was quoted as saying.
The US recently imposed quotas on Chinese textiles amid complaints about China's trade surplus, which hit US$103 billion last year and could top US$130 billion this year.
China last week threatened to hike import duties on some US products after a World Trade Organization ruling that Washington's tariffs on steel are illegal. It also said it was delaying the departure of a US-bound official trade delegation that was to follow up a US$6 billion buying spree by a similar delegation.
Beijing had been hoping to use the shopping expeditions to counter growing US discontent.
While the Bush administration might use Wen's visit to press for movement on trade, China publicly worries more about Taiwan.
Independence plot
Chinese authorities accuse Taiwanese president Chen Shui-bian (
In his comments to the Post, Wen warned Washington against sending "mixed signals" about its stance on Taiwanese independence.
Chinese officials complained when Chen stopped in New York to speak to supporters en route to Panama to attend centenary celebrations for the country's independence.
In Panama, Chen shook hands with US Secretary of State Colin Powell, who became the highest-ranking American official known to have spoken with a Taiwanese president since 1979.
The action angered China, which rejects any gestures that appear to treat Taiwan as a sovereign nation.
Not satisfied
"The Chinese leaders, people from both the mainland and Taiwan are not satisfied with the US because its attitude toward the Taiwan issue is vague and the signals are confusing," said Xu Bodong, director of the Institute of Taiwan at Beijing Union University.
"The US received Chen Shui-bian's visit at a high level and allowed him to deliver speeches on Taiwan independence. What the US did is irresponsible and greatly inspired the Taiwan separatist," Xu said.
Washington should "realize the seriousness and danger of the issue of Taiwan independence," Xu said. "Otherwise, Sino-US relations may go backwards."
A Chinese official in charge of Taiwan policy was quoted by state media last week as saying, "Taiwan independence means war" -- one of China's strongest statements in years on the issue.
Danger
Speaking to the Post, Wen said Washington must recognize the danger of Chen's "separatist agenda" and oppose any effort toward formal independence.
"I hope the leaders of the two countries fully communicate with each other," Xu said, and "do not let the Taiwan issue to be the gunpowder to the security of the entire region."
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