China looks to ‘mature phase’

Press, 19 May 1984, Page 11

China looks to ‘mature phase’

NZPA-Reuter Peking China is looking for concrete action by Washington to cut arms sales to Taiwan so that China-United States relations can enter a more mature phase, the Foreign Minister, Wu Xuequian, said in an interview published yesterday. He told the English-lan-guage “China Daily” newspaper two weeks after President Ronald Reagan had visited Peking that China-United Stated relations had improved but they could not be said to have entered what he termed “a maturing period.”

The issue of American arms sales to the nationalists on Taiwan, regarded by Peking as a rebel province, was still the principle obstacle to improved ties, he said.

“We are looking forward to seeing the United States strictly abide by the prin-

ciples set down in the three joint communiques. We hope the United States "will show its commitment by taking practical action,” he said. In the three communiques, Washington recognised the principle of “one China” and agreed to reduce gradually its arms supplies to Taiwan, which has rejected Peking’s reunification overtures as a trick.

Mr Wu said ensuring sustained progress in ChinaUnited States relations was in the interest of the two peoples and world peace — “any far-sighted American statesman should realise this.”

Mr Reagan, a long-time supporter of Taiwan, underlined during his visit that the United States would uphold the terms of the communiques but also said Washington would not abandon its old friends on Taiwan to win new ones elsewhere.