The Hindu : Sino-U.S. ties headed for major crisis

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Feb 25, 2002

International

International

Sino-U.S. ties headed for major crisis

Beijing Feb. 24. Sino-U.S. relations are heading for another major crisis with Washington poised to grant a visa to Taiwan's Defence Minister, Tang Yao-Ming, to attend bilateral military talks in Florida early next month, reports said here today.

``The invitation to Tang will enrage Beijing, even more so because it comes immediately after what China regards as a `fruitful and substantial' visit by the U.S. President, George W Bush, the South China Morning Post reported.

``The news is likely to ruin the honeymoon atmosphere created by Bush's visit and celebrated in China's state-run newspapers on Saturday,'' Hong Kong's leading newspaper commented.

China opposes any country issuing visas to senior members of Taiwan Government. Beijing would regard the issue of visa to Tang as extremely provocative,'' the report said.

It would be the first U.S. visit by a Taiwanese Defence Minister since 1979 and would upgrade military exchanges between Washington and Taipei. For Beijing, the disagreement over Taiwan is the biggest obstacle in relations with Washington, especially its supply of arms and the obligations set out in the U.S.-Taiwan relations act under which the U.S. Government is obliged to defend Taiwan. — PTI

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