China’s President Assails Congress’ Abortion Charges

President Li Xiannian, departing Thursday for Canada and the United States, condemned the U.S. Congress for accusing China of using forced abortions and sterilizations to control growth of its population of more than 1 billion.

Li said two amendments to a foreign aid bill approved by the House of Representatives on Wednesday are “totally a fabrication and distortion and the Chinese people are utterly indignant.”

One amendment, approved 289 to 130, accused China of using coerced abortions and sterilization, which it called “crimes against humanity.”

The other, passed 234 to 189, authorized President Reagan to deny U.S. funds to organizations that promote abortion as a method of family planning. This would allow the President to withhold all or part of a planned $51 million contribution to the U.N. Fund for Population Activities and put pressure on China to halt reported abuses of its population control policy.

“I think it’s interference in China’s internal affairs and that is absolutely unacceptable to us,” Li, who is China’s formal head of state, told reporters at Peking airport. “I don’t know whether President Reagan is aware of that.”

Sensitive to Criticism

Peking is sensitive to foreign criticism of its “one couple, one child” family planning policy, aimed at keeping China’s population from surpassing 1.2 billion by the year 2000. Peking has denied that it approves forced abortions to uphold its limit of one child per couple.

Li said, however, that he does not think the House votes will affect his visit, designed to enhance friendship and mutual understanding.

Li, 76, accompanied by his wife, Lin Jiamei and a high-level entourage, flew Thursday to Vancouver. He formally begins his Canadian visit on Sunday and is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Brian Mulroney before going to the United States on July 22 for a weeklong visit that is to include stops at Niagara Falls, Washington, Chicago, Los Angeles and Honolulu before returning to China on July 31.

He will meet twice with President Reagan and also is scheduled to meet Secretary of State George P. Shultz and Defense Secretary Caspar W. Weinberger. Talks are expected to focus on nuclear energy, trade and the future of Taiwan.

Taiwan Called Obstacle

Li said the future of Taiwan, governed by the Chinese Nationalists driven from the mainland by the Communists in 1949, remains “the biggest obstacle in Sino-U.S. relations.”

China, which seeks reunification of the island with the mainland, objects to large-scale U.S. arms sales to Taiwan. Since 1979, Washington has recognized Peking as the sole legitimate government of China, and a 1982 accord calls for gradual reductions in U.S. arms shipments to Taiwan.

State Department officials in Washington said Wednesday that a nuclear cooperation agreement, initialed but not signed during Reagan’s visit to China last year, may finally be ready for signing during Li’s visit.

The pact snagged over reports that China has aided Pakistan in developing a nuclear weapons capability, violating American law against giving nuclear weapons assistance to third nations.

Li said of the pact’s status: “I think we have done what we should do. We do not owe anything to anyone, and I think it’s entirely up to the United States now.”

China has plans to build from five to eight nuclear reactors in the next decade.

Li also is expected to sign the first U.S.-China fisheries agreement, permitting Chinese catches in U.S. waters.

Li, a veteran economist, was seen off at the airport by Premier Zhao Ziyang, Foreign Minister Wu Xueqian and other party and government leaders.