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Chinese vice premier to visit U.S. on March 18-24
2001-03-05
BEIJING - Chinese Vice Premier Qian Qichen will visit the United States from March 18 to 24 at the invitation of the U.S. government, Xinhua News Agency reported Sunday, quoting Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhu Bangzao. Qian will be the first Chinese cabinet member to visit the U.S. since U.S. President George W. Bush took office in January, Xinhua said. Analysts said Qian, who is in charge of Chinese policy on Taiwan, which Beijing regards as a renegade province, is likely to request that the U.S. not provide the island with advanced weapons. The Bush administration's Taiwan policy will undergo its first major test in maintaining the delicate balance of relations between China and Taiwan when it holds annual talks with Taiwan on arms sales in April. Taiwan is expected to ask Bush for the sale of four Aegis guided-missile destroyers to counter Beijing's recent military modernization efforts. Bush has indicated in the past he will be more aggressive in fulfilling the obligation to defend Taiwan, as set under the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979.
China lays into 'Bush doctrine' ahead of U.S. poll (2004-10-31)China okays Taiwan nationalist office (2001-09-11)Chinese vice premier to visit U.S. on March 18-24 (2001-03-05)China's Qian to visit Washington in March (2001-02-04)China details plans for Taiwan links (2001-01-08)
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