U.S. Plans China Summit Clinton, Jiang May Meet This Fall To Discuss Nukes, Trade, Taiwan

Just days after China declared that relations with the United States were “at their lowest ebb” in 16 years, preparations have begun for a possible fence-mending meeting this fall between President Clinton and Chinese President Jiang Zemin, a senior U.S. official said here Sunday.

“We have too much at stake both in China and the United States to neglect this relationship and try to isolate each other,” visiting Undersecretary of State Peter Tarnoff said.

Secretary of State Warren Christopher and Chinese Foreign Minister Qian Qichen will have a chance to bolster that relationship beginning with a meeting in late September at the U.N. General Assembly, Tarnoff said, likely to be followed by an October summit between Clinton and Jiang.

Tarnoff, the third-highest official in the State Department, met over the weekend with Chinese counterparts in an attempt to repair ties ruptured by conflicts over just-released activist Harry Wu, trade and, most of all, Taiwan.

Already strained U.S.-Sino relations worsened in June with the “private” visit of Taiwanese President Lee Teng-hui to alma mater Cornell University, which China interpreted as American support of Taiwan’s aspirations for independence.

The United States and China also disagree over China’s continued nuclear testing, Beijing’s alleged missile sales to Pakistan and trade issues.

The release of Chinese-American activist Wu and the announcement that first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton will travel to China to attend the U.N. World Conference on Women early next month are two small steps in rebuilding ties, Tarnoff said.