On the afternoon of March 6, Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan gave a press conference during which he answered questions from Chinese and foreign correspondents on issues concerning Chinese foreign policy and international situation.

Q: (Xinhua News Agency) Vice-Premier Qian Qichen will pay an official weeklong visit to the United States starting from March 18. Could you brief us on the specific arrangement and the objectives for the Vice-Premier’s visit? Also his visit represents the first visit of a Chinese leader to the United States following the assumption of the presidency by Mr. Bush. How do you evaluate the direction for China-US relations?

A: At present, there is a lot of interest in the world in the development in the China-US relations. Indeed, this bilateral relationship is in the important time period linking the past to the future. I can tell you that since the new government of the US took office, the top leaders of the two countries have maintained in touch. And both sides adopt a positive attitude on the development of China-US relations and the further advancement of our bilateral exchanges and co-operation in various areas. Vice-Premier Qian Qichen is scheduled the visit to the US upon the invitation of the US government from March 18 to 24. The delegation will mainly stay in Washington and New York. His visit marks the first official meeting between the leaders of the two countries following the coming to office of the new administration of the US. Actually, his visit will present an occasion for extensive and in-depth exchange of views on bilateral relations and a series of important issues concerning the international and regional situations of interest to both sides. The Vice-Premier will also meet with the representatives of various communities and circles in the United States. We believe that the Vice-Premier’s visit to the US will contribute to better mutual understanding of our two countries and will also contribute, on that basis, to maintaining the stability and co-operation in our region and in the world. The two countries have shared interests in quite a number of areas. However, We need also to acknowledge that in the China-US bilateral relations, there also exist a number of issues and differences, some of which are quite outstanding, for instance the Taiwan question. However I believe that as long as the two countries work together, as long as the US side implement the One China policy, and acts in strict accordance with the three China-US joint communiqués, and particularly as long as the US side handles the Taiwan question properly, China-US relations will be able to move forward.

Q: (Ita-Tass) This year, President Jiang Zemin will visit Moscow. And you will also meet with the Russian Foreign Minister. Could you comment on a number of questions that will come out in your discussions? And how do you evaluate China-Russia relationship?

A: China-Russian bilateral relations have demonstrated a very sound momentum of development. This year, the two countries will continue to maintain an active exchange of high-level visits. As far as I understand currently, his Excellency, President Putin will visit China twice this year for the purpose of attending important international conferences. President Jiang Zemin on his part will pay a state visit to Russia probably in July. And I myself will also visit Moscow before the President’s visit, mainly to make political preparations. During my visit, the two sides are prepared to initial a new treaty called the Good-neighborly Treaty of Friendship and Co-operation between China and Russia which will be officially signed by the two heads of state during the President’s visit to Moscow. China and Russia have maintained very good exchanges and co-operation in economic, scientific and technological fields, as well as many other fields including military technology. As I mentioned to you earlier, China-Russia relationship now is a new-typed and normal state-to-state relationship. It is neither an alliance, nor targeted at any third country or third party. And on that basis, a long-term good-neighborly friendship and cooperation between the two countries will be built up. The two countries also share a strong desire to be good neighbours, good partners and good friends. In the treaty which is to be signed between our two sides, exactly embodies such a spirit.

Q: (Kyodo News Service) A question about China-Japan relations, particularly the Textbook Issue. The Chinese government has called on the Japanese government not to allow the publication of the relevant textbooks under review. However, according to the procedures for the publication of textbooks in Japan, the Ministry of Education in Japan can put forward some suggestions for amendment. If such contents as whitewashing or negating the Japanese war of aggression will be amended, then would those textbooks become acceptable to the Chinese side? Would it be possible for Japan to publish those textbooks? Or do you believe that there are too many problems with the textbooks that they are already beyond remedy? And secondly, if the Japanese side does publish certain textbooks, not satisfactory to China, what measures will the Chinese government take? And what’s the impact on the development of China-Japan relations?

A: China has been following the various moves that Japan has been taking internally with regard to the textbooks issue with serious concerns. As a matter of fact, we’ve already made solemn representations on many occasions with the Japanese side through diplomatic channels. I believe that the nature of the so-called textbooks Issue can be described in very simple words. It involves the question of whether Japan can rightly understand and handle its past aggressions, whether Japan can take concrete action to win the trust of its Asian neighbours, and whether Japan will continue to go along the road of peaceful development. I myself had personal experiences on two occasions concerning China’s representation with Japan over the textbooks issue. On these two occasions I was working in Tokyo. Indeed the nature of the problem is just as what I have described. On our part, we’ve done all that we should have done with Japan and all relevant issues have been made clear enough to the Japanese side. To put this question in another perspective, as our friend from Kyodo News Service mentioned, the review and finalization of the textbooks in Japan involves a very protracted and complicated process. However I must point out that at the end of the process lies the Japanese government. In other words, whether the contents of the textbooks are acceptable, whether these textbooks would be published, the final decision still lies with the Japanese government. Therefore the Japanese government should take upon itself its due responsibilities and obligations and it should demonstrate that its past statements, many times repeated on the question of history is really reliable and we can really take Japan on its own words. So indeed in this connection Japan need to properly handle the textbooks question. Only in this way, will the political foundation for China-Japan relations be safeguarded. We all know that it is very clearly provided for in the China-Japan Joint Statement that the question of history constitutes the political foundation of the relations between China and Japan. All in all, the government and people in China are now waiting to see what Japan will do on this question.

Q: (from CCTV) It is the view of outside opinion that since the beginning of last year, China has intensified its efforts to play a greater role in the world. What is your comment on that? And what do you think are the major diplomatic and foreign policy initiatives China will take this year?

A: China has always unswervingly followed an Independent Foreign Policy of Peace. We will always be a positive force for world peace and common development of all the members of the international community. I believe with the development of China’s economy, with the rise of China’s comprehensive national strength, most naturally, China will play an increasingly commensurate role in world affairs.

In the new century, China will continue to make unremitting efforts diplomatically for its modernization drive at home, for the peaceful reunification of the motherland, and for world peace, closer international cooperation, and common development of the world. This year is the first year of the new century and this year we have planned very active diplomatic initiatives in China with a full diplomatic agenda. For example, not long ago, we successfully held the inauguration of the Boao Forum For Asia in Boao, Hainan Province. In the coming May, we will hold the 3rd Asia-Europe Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Beijing. In the coming June, there will be the 6th Summit of the Shanghai Five in Shanghai. In the coming October, we have a major event coming up in Shanghai, which is the 9th Informal Leadership Meeting of APEC. Naturally, proceeding and following the APEC meeting, there will be a number of very important visits to China by some leaders of APEC economies. And so this year, we will also have a number of important visits overseas and visits to China. I am confident these important diplomatic activities and initiatives will serve to strengthen China’s relations with various other countries in the world and will work towards better mutual understanding and closer exchanges and cooperation between China and these countries. It will also promote peace, cooperation and development both in the region China is in and in the world as a whole.

Q: (GPA) This morning, the finance minister has presented a new budget. He also presented that the military budget will increase by 17.7%. The reason he gave was drastic changes in the international situation. Can you elaborate what kind of changes he meant? Has it anything to do with the American plans, or NMD? Thank you.

A: I do not see any direct link with the US program for NMD development. Indeed over the years, in order to ensure the financing of China’s modernization drive, we have adhered to the strict control of our defence spending. The increase of defence budget in China can be traced to the following two major factors. Firstly, with continued progress in China economic development, and with the continuous rise of our living standards of city and rural residents, particularly with the rising per capita income levels among the people in China, it is most natural that there is the need to maintain a rising income for our servicemen in tandem with other rises in income. Secondly, this defence increase comes from the need to modernize our national defence system and to introduce reforms to our military structures. So these factors have basically contributed to the relatively big rise in our defence spending. In the meantime, however, I have to point out that if you put China’s defence budget in the context of the defence spending of other major countries in the world, you will realize that China’s defence budget is the smallest. From the information I have gathered, this year the military budget in the United States amounts to USD$ 305.4 billion. And so our budget is only 5% of the American budget this year. If you compare China defence spending with Japan’s, which is our neighbor, then it is only about 30% of Japan’s military spending.

Q: (from ATV, HK) Since the new President in the United States took office, we found that on quite a number of fronts, the United States is often on the offensive against China concerning some aspects of China-US relations, including its plan to table a draft resolution in Geneva condemning the human rights situation in China. Would that not constitute an obstacle to the development of China-US relations? And would that not exert a negative impact on the bilateral relations? Secondly, apart from criticizing the human rights situation on the mainland, the Human Rights Report by the State Department of the US also criticized HK’s human rights record and also raised some concerns over HK’s handling of the “Falungong” question. Have you felt the tendency under which the HK question is being internationalized?

A: On the question of human rights, we can see the United States putting up a show in Geneva’s Human Rights Commission session almost every year. A number of days ago, the US has once again officially announced that it would table an anti-China draft resolution in Geneva this year. In the mean time, it has also released some country-specific human rights reports involving China and quite a number of other countries. These documents released by the US have mentioned more than 100 developing countries by name. However, these documents have not even one word mentioning the serious human rights problems that exist within the United States. So what phenomenon can we call this? This is the most typical example of the US’ continued practice of double standards on the question of human rights. Confrontation over human rights can lead nowhere. If the United States is intent upon continuing to go along this path, then I don’t think it possible for the United States to get any better outcome than it has already got many times in the past.

We in China are firmly opposed to practicing double standards and politicizing the human rights questions. In the same vein, we are firmly opposed to interference into other countries’ internal affairs by making use of human rights. What has happened in HK in the more than 3 years following its return to the motherland has fully testified to that the Central People’s Government of China has adhered to the policy of “one country, two systems” and never interfered into the affairs which fall within the autonomy of HKSAR. The SAR Government in HK has also adhered to administering HK’s affairs in accordance with the Basic Law, which has made it possible for our HK compatriots to enjoy a peaceful and contented life and fully enjoy human rights, democracy and freedom. In total disregard of the facts about HK, the State Department’s report, particularly the part concerning HK, is really making unwarranted charges against the human rights situation in HK. So we hereby express our firm opposition and strong dissatisfaction.

It has been our consistent proposition that there should be international cooperation over human rights. Specifically speaking, there should be dialogue and exchanges in the human rights area, which constitute the right method for handling the existing problems and differences over human rights. In conclusion, I would like to advise the United States’ side to get rid of its perverted ways on this question as soon as possible and return to the road of dialogue, which is the right path.

Q: (From South Korea) In the second half of February, the North Korea’s Foreign Ministry released a statement, suggesting that if the new administration in the US continues to adopt a tough attitude against the DPRK, then DPRK might consider re-launching its missiles. So how do you comment on the state of North Korea-US relations? Would the souring of relations between these two countries lead to the re-launching of missiles by the North Korean side, in your judgement? And also President Kim Dae-jung of ROK visited North Korea last year, so there is a lot of interest as to when Mr. Kim Jong-il will visit South Korea this year, do you think you can share with us the time from Mr. Kim Jong-il’s visit to South Korea?

A: I do not see US-DPRK relations as that tense. The major countries surrounding the Korean Peninsula, even including the United States, will continue to work towards peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula. I do not think there would be a retrogressive step involving these important questions which have a direct bearing on the future direction of the Peninsular situation. Now concerning the visit, now that President Kim Dae-Jung has visited Pyongyang last year, and has been accorded such warm welcome and grand reception by his North Korean hosts headed by Mr. Kim Jong-il, so I think Mr. Kim Jong-il will indeed make a return visit to South Korea. It is only a matter of time.

Q: (Voice of America) I was wondering as you work to craft relations with the new US administration, members of that US administration are discussing the quality and quantity of weapons that they may sell to Taiwan. I am sure you are well aware that the decision on that is due in April. If those weapons include the Aegis ship or ships, what effect will that have on relations between Washington and Beijing?

A: The Taiwan question is a very sensitive and very important question in China-US relations. In all frankness, what the United States have done on this question is adequate to show that now the US factor is an important outside factor in the way of the peaceful reunification of the Chinese motherland. If the US side continues to fail to honor its commitments on this question, if the US side continues to insist on selling advanced weapons to Taiwan including particularly the Aegis missile destroyer and the Pac-III anti-missile systems, that would send a very wrong signal to the Taiwan authorities. It will encourage a very small number of people, the Taiwan independence elements to continue to engage in separatist activities. It would only feed their arrogance. And furthermore, that move by the US will endanger China-US relations and aggravate the tension across the Taiwan Straits and it will not work in any interest of the US itself. The US side should come to the recognition of the serious dangers involved. It should rein in its wild horse right on the side of the precipice.

Q: (From Taiwan) You mentioned that the Taiwan question is an important factor in the improvement of China-US relations. Namely, if the Taiwan question gets properly handled, that would work very much to better China-US relations. So my question is: what impact do you think a better China-US relations will have on cross-straits relations? In this connection, the Vice Premier will visit the United States quite soon. So what do you think are the further messages the Vice Premier will convey on the Taiwan question.

A: The Taiwan question has not been resolved up till this day. There are mainly two categories of contributing factors. Firstly, within the Island, Chen Shuibian has failed to recognize the One China principle to this day. The second factor relates to the outside factor, mainly coming from the United States. If the United States, as an outside factor had not wreaked havoc at certain times, then the Taiwan question would have been resolved long time ago.

Concerning your second question, most naturally, the Vice Premier will have a full exchange of ideas with leaders of the United States over Taiwan during his stay in Washington.

Q: (Middle East News Agency) President Bush announced that China is going to investigate its involvement in the establishment of fiber-optical system in Iraq. And China denied it. They will ask what is the problem if this system is already approved by the United Nations as foreign diplomats say.

A: Concerning your question, the relevant agencies in China have carried out some serious investigations. The result of the investigation is that Chinese enterprises and corporations have not assisted Iraq in building the project of fiber-optic cable for air defense. As is known to you, the Chinese government has always been very serious, very strict and always very responsible in implementing the relevant UN resolutions on Iraq. And the Chinese government has very clear-cut provisions which have been reaffirmed to corporations and enterprises many times around China which prohibit any company or individual from engaging in any activity, economic activities or trading activities which go against the UN Security Council resolutions on Iraq. In other words, all these enterprises and individuals in China must strictly abide by these resolutions. So this time, these provisions will have been once again reaffirmed to corporations nationwide. We in China have been very serious and responsible in this question and we have a very good track record in the United Nations. And indeed, there is the question why the US side should, all of a sudden, put forward this question, as you have been also asking. So in this connection I can not but say that there may be another factor at work. That is, by spreading such information, probably what has been attempted is to divert the attention of the international community away from the unilateral bombing of Iraq by the United States and Britain not long ago in circumvention of the United Nations.

Q: (Financial Times) In January, Vice Premier Qian Qichen said that China would adopt flexible policy towards Taiwan. Today, the Finance Minister announced a 17.7 increase in military spending. How do you reconcile these two policies? Would it not seem to the people in Taiwan that China is increasing its threat towards them?

A: I do not see any need at all for you to artificially link together the normal increase in our military spending on the one hand and the Taiwan question on the other because these two questions really fall into two different categories.

Q: (National radio) You mentioned that the Informal Leadership Meeting of APEC is going to be held in Shanghai in the coming October. What is your expectation for the Leadership Meeting there? Could you brief us on the preparations for that meeting? Will President Bush of the US come over for the meeting? Will he also visit China?

A: It is also the very 1st time in our history that we are hosting this very important international conference. Therefore the Chinese Government and Chinese leaders have given much importance to this Leadership Meeting. We have, a long time ago, established a steering group with Vice Premier Qian Qichen as the chairman, and with Party Secretary of Shanghai Mr. Huang Ju and Mr. Zeng Qinghong as the vice chairmen. Under this steering group, there is the preparatory committee, which is chaired by myself. We also have a secretary-general, who is the vice foreign minister of China, Mr. Wang Guangya. The vice foreign minister is responsible for all the work of the Secretariat and specific arrangements. So now all the aspects of the preparations are proceeding along a normal track. The Secretariat in Beijing has already launched their joint work. In Shanghai, the various preparations have also long ago fallen into place.

The theme of this year’s APEC Meeting is “new century, new challenges, participation, cooperation, and promoting common prosperity”. By the time of the conference, 21 leaders of APEC member economies will gather together in Shanghai for a joint discussion of important issues relating to the APEC.

As I mentioned just now, there will be some official visits to China by important leaders of APEC economies during, before or after the APEC meeting.

Q: (Associated Press) I want to go back to the discussions of the Aegis system and Pac-III you talked about earlier. How would China have to respond to a sale? Would you be unable to cooperate on missile proliferation, for example? Would you feel the need to increase your missile defenses facing Taiwan? A short second question I’d like to ask is: have you read or do you intend to read the Tiananmen Papers? Has there been any discussion among the top Chinese leaders, such as yourself about this book?

A: With regard to your first question, we have to look at the attitude of the US because it is dependent on the US. Today I have elaborated a great deal on this particular question. All in all, I hope the US will come to a sober-minded understanding of the serious dangers involved.

With regard to the so-called Tiananmen Papers you mentioned, I think this paper is nothing more than sheer fabrications, intentionally engineered by certain people out of very vicious political motives. With regard to the political disturbance which occurred between Spring and Summer of 1989, there has long been a right historical conclusion on that disturbance, which will not be changed. If the timely and decisive measure had not been taken at that time, we would not be able to be enjoying such a good situation of stability and development we are having today. I think whoever attempts, through vicious means of made-up stories and rumors to reach their ulterior political motives is doomed to failure. There is no other fate than inglorious defeat for these people.