Monday April 23 10:50 AM ET
Chinese Minister Tells U.S. to Stick by
Agreements

PRAGUE (Reuters) - China warned Washington on Monday to stick to
long-standing agreements to keep growing tensions with the U.S. over
several incidents from boiling over.

Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan told reporters during an official
visit to Prague that three Sino-American joint communiqus, which form
the basis of relations between it and China should be used to solve
outstanding disputes.

``As long as the American side exactly adheres to the concept and
principles stemming from these three joint communiqus...I think that we
could solve all problems, including that of Taiwan, and
Chinese-American relations could continue to develop fluently and
healthily,'' Jiaxuan said.

Jiaxuan was referring to three joint communiqus signed in 1972, which
establish relations between the two powers, and enshrine the United
States' one-China policy and its non-recognition of Taiwan, which China
regards as a renegade province.

Former Taiwanese President Lee Teng-hui's planned visit to the United
States and Japan has put a further burden on the strained relations
between the U.S. and China.

Lee, 78, says he is visiting Japan to seek medical treatment at a hospital in
Kurashiki, about 600 km west of Tokyo. Lee then plans to visit his alma
mater, Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, from April 30 to May 6.

A State Department spokesman said Washington considers Lee to be a
private individual and sees no reason to refuse him a visa. But according to
Beijing, Lee's visit is not a private affair.

``When Taiwan's highest ranking representatives a few days ago publicly
proclaimed that Lee Teng-hui's visit to Japan was a state affair, that his
trip is related to national interests of Taiwan, it is clear that this is no
private visit and it has nothing to do with humanitarian causes,'' Jaixuan
said.

Ties between Beijing and Washigton have chilled since the collision on
April 1 of a U.S. navy EP-3 spy plane and a Chinese jet fighter, which each
side blames on the other.

Relations will be tested further by a U.S. decision this month on sales of
weapons to Taiwan. Taiwan has asked for weapons including the $1 billion
Arleigh Burke Class destroyers equipped with Aegis defense systems.

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