Include Pakistan in Clinton tour, China tells US

The Chinese foreign ministry had earlier commented on the non-inclusion of Pakistan in Clinton’s itinerary as a matter between Pakistan and the US.However, the just-concluded two-day Sino-US strategic security consultations, ahead of Clinton’s tour to Bangladesh and India, gave Beijing an opportunity to air its views on South Asia and coordinate stands on South Asian nuclear issue.

Talbott briefed the Chinese side on the 10 rounds of talks he had so far held with External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh on nuclear non-proliferation and security issues in the South Asian region.

Meanwhile, Talbott’s talks with Chinese officials were dominated by the vexed Taiwan issue with Beijing pressing Washington not to abet pro-independence Taiwanese politicians by selling high-tech weapons to the island, sources said.

China regards Taiwan as a rebel province that must be reunified with the mainland.

Talbott held consultations with Chinese Vice-Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi on Thursday and met Vice-Premier Qian Qichen on Friday. He also met two senior Chinese generals, Zhang Wannian and Xiong Guangkai, both key players in formulating Beijing’s policy toward Taipei.

He reportedly urged China to show restraint as Taiwan elects a new president on March 18. Though the Chinese side gave a patient hearing to Washington’s advice, they did not give any commitment, sources said.

During Taiwan’s first presidential poll in 1996, China held provocative war games near the island and the US responded by sending warships to Taiwan strait, bringing the two nations to near confrontation.

During talks, China strongly opposed continued US arms sales to Taiwan, which it said interfered with China’s internal affairs. China reminded US that it was committed to scale down arms sales to Taiwan under a 1982 Sino-US agreement.

However, Talbott told the Chinese that the US is required by law to aid Taiwan maintain a credible defence and advised Beijing that by showing restraint China would diminish the need for US weapons sales to Taiwan.Moreover, Talbott expressed Washington’s concern over new Chinese missile fields in the south-eastern province of Fujian, which faces Taiwan.

Sources said Talbott could not sell Washington’s ambitious plans to establish two anti-missile shields, one to guard itself from attacks by the so-called rogue states and another regional system for East Asia where a sizeable number of American troops are deployed.