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China Denounces U.S. Lawmakers’ Taiwan Vote

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TIMES STAFF WRITER

China lashed out Wednesday at U.S. congressional efforts to boost military ties with Taiwan, warning the new American ambassador that already rocky Sino-U.S. relations could face further trouble.

Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi summoned U.S. Ambassador Joseph Prueher to express China’s “utmost indignation” at the passage of the Taiwan Security Enhancement Act by the U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday. The legislation would establish direct military ties between the U.S. and Taiwan and offer more American training to Taiwanese military officers.

Yang called the act a move by “anti-China forces” in the U.S. bent on undermining China’s national sovereignty. Beijing regards Taiwan as part of its rightful territory, a breakaway province run since 1949 by the Nationalists who fled Communist rule.

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The measure would open the door to the sale of more sophisticated U.S. arms to Taiwan and encourage those who advocate Taiwanese independence, Yang said.

“The Chinese government and people will never agree to any attempt or move to damage China’s reunification,” he said.

Congress, led by staunch supporters of Taiwan among the Republican majority, passed the legislation by a bipartisan vote of 341 to 70. The act still requires Senate and presidential approval.

The White House said Wednesday that it would veto the bill, which the Clinton administration contends is both unnecessary and harmful to Sino-U.S. relations. Prueher reiterated Clinton’s opposition in his meeting with Yang, the official New China News Agency reported.

Since Prueher took over as ambassador in December, Beijing has been particularly vocal in its criticism of U.S. policy toward Taiwan, possibly with an eye to the security measure pending in Congress and to Taiwan’s presidential election next month.

During the campaign for the island’s first such election in 1996, the White House dispatched Navy ships into waters off Taiwan as a protective measure against missile tests by the mainland aimed at intimidating Taiwan. Prueher was commander of the Pacific Fleet at the time.

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Regaining control of Taiwan has gained urgency among Chinese leaders in the past 2 1/2 years with the reversion of Hong Kong and Macao to Chinese rule. Taiwan is seen as the last piece in China’s territorial jigsaw puzzle.

Taipei gave a cautious welcome to the security enhancement act Wednesday. Defense officials have asked to buy more advanced radar equipment and Patriot missiles from the U.S. as part of Taiwan’s annual request for U.S.-made military hardware.

Washington is also considering adding Taiwan to an umbrella missile shield that is in the very early stages of development. Beijing has warned that including Taiwan would spark an arms race.

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