Sino-US Ties "Energized but Still Problematic" Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit [although the US is putting a brave face on he APEC summit and claiming to be "thrilled" with the resolution against terrorism, it is obvious from the text itself of that resolution that neither the war on Afghanistan nor the Hunt for bin Laden was endorsed by the summit. Despite acres of propagandistic coverage, reality won't bear out the pretty words with the pretty pictures of the happy leaders in the silk coats.] Sunday October 21, 5:58 PM (via Yahoo) Sino-U.S. ties "energised but still problematic" By Jeremy Page SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Despite a 20-year age gap and a gulf in politics, U.S. President George W. Bush and Chinese head of state Jiang Zemin were keen to demonstrate a chemistry at a Pacific Rim meeting which ended on Sunday. Yet two days after their first face-to-face meeting on Friday, Chinese state media questioned how well the two leaders had really hit it off. The China Daily suggested Bush was interested mainly in lining up China behind his war on terrorism. And to do so he had papered over differences that have long bedevilled relations, including Taiwan, human rights and missile defence. The Bush-Jiang meeting will energise bilateral ties, according to a commentary in the state-run newspaper, but "the two still have a long way to go in smoothing out their differences". Chu Shulong, professor of international affairs at Tsinghua University in Beijing, was quoted as saying the United States was "sweetening the atmosphere" because it needed to crack down on terrorism and revive the global economy. "But it will not likely change its stance on problems related to its fundamental interests," Chu said. Bush is 55 and in the first year of his presidency. Jiang is 75 and in the last year of his reign as Communist Party leader -- although he will remain president until 2003. Photographs of Bush and Jiang together published in state newspapers were carefully selected to show an older man, his arm outstretched and head to one side, seeming to offer guidance to his younger guest. Bush appeared comfortable enough around Jiang, chatting in English and cracking a joke at a joint news conference. After Jiang cut short the proceedings, allowing just two questions, Bush quipped: "I like the way the Chinese do it when it comes to press conferences." Yet the body language between Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin seemed more genuine. Bush's predecessor Bill Clinton hailed Jiang as a man of vision when he visited China in 1998. Bush praised Jiang for standing side by side with America against terrorism since the devastating September 11 attacks on New York and Washington, which killed more than 5,400 people. PRIORITIES CHANGED Six months after they locked swords over U.S. support for Taiwan and a collision between a U.S. spy plane and a Chinese fighter, Bush now sees Jiang as a key ally in the war on terrorism. "The attacks of September 11 have changed people's priorities and perceptions," said Nicholas Platt, president of the Asia Society. "Those changes are finding their place at this meeting -- improved relations between the United States, China and Russia, and a willingness on the part of everyone to pull together, figure out ways to deal with terrorism." But it is clear China has deep misgivings about the relationship. Top of its list of concerns remains Taiwan, which Beijing regards as a rebel province. U.S. support for the island, including arms sales, is the most sensitive issue in Sino-U.S. relations. Bush angered Chinese leaders this year by announcing the largest arms sale package to Taiwan in more than a decade and vowing to do whatever it takes to defend the island. The China Daily article said Bush had reassured China by pledging to adhere to the "one China" principle, which states that the mainland and Taiwan are both part of one country. U.S. officials have also been conspicuously silent about Taiwan's withdrawal from the APEC summit after China refused to send an invitation to Taipei's hand-picked candidate, former vice president Li Yuan-zu. Human rights concerns -- a perennial irritant to China-U.S. ties -- have also slipped down Bush's agenda. That has raised fears in Taiwan that it would lose out in any political horse-trading between Bush and Jiang. "Taiwan is very suspicious that the United States is going to need to make some concessions to China for their support in the war on terrorism and those concessions may come at Taiwan's expense," said Denny Roy, senior research fellow at the Asia Pacific Centre for Strategic Studies in Hawaii. TAIWAN PICKS A FIGHT Many analysts accuse Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian of picking a fight with Beijing to win votes with pro-independence hardliners at home ahead of a December general election. Another editorial in the China Daily on Sunday accused Chen of plotting to raise the island's profile and stir up sentiment against Beijing. "People are fairly suspicious that Chen is using this opportunity to try and lift Taiwan's profile," it said. But Taiwan's fears are not entirely unfounded. Beijing hopes better ties with Washington will temper U.S. support for Taiwan which has refused to recognise the "one China" policy -- Beijing's precondition for reunification talks. "Taiwan is always the priority for China," said Jin Canrong, an expert on China-U.S. relations at the China Academy of Social Sciences. "China wants the United States to put more pressure on the Taiwan authorities to have a more flexible stance on the 'one China' policy." Analysts say Bush is prepared to soft pedal on Taiwan and other sensitive issues to keep China in a global coalition against terror. But once Washington's short-term goals are achieved, it is unlikely to give ground, least of all over Taiwan. "There has been no fundamental realignment in relations between China, the United States and Taiwan," said Roy. "When attention comes back to the region, sympathies will stay much the same as before September 11," said Roy. "But for the moment, the entire package has been put on the backburner." ================================================================= NY Transfer News Collective * A Service of Blythe Systems Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us 339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012 http://www.blythe.org e-mail: nyt@blythe.org ================================================================= nytas-10.22.01-05:02:30-11380