Top U.S. officials plan China trip ahead of Taiwan elections

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott is scheduled to visit China next week

February 11, 2000
Web posted at: 12:56 p.m. HKT (0456 GMT)

From CNN White House Correspondent Major Garrett

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott and James Steinberg, deputy National Security adviser, will travel to China next week for high-level meetings with Chinese officials, administration officials said Thursday.

The meetings will focus on attempts to restart a "comprehensive strategic dialogue" on such issues as nuclear non-proliferation and human rights, officials said. Talbott will also attempt to encourage a renewal of dialogue between China and Taiwan.

The trip comes before the Taiwanese presidential elections, scheduled to take place March 18, and is intended to reduce the possibility of military or diplomatic confrontations between China and Taiwan.

China staged military exercises in the Taiwan Strait before the island nation conducted its first direct presidential election in 1996.

The United States responded by sending two aircraft carriers to the region to monitor the situation; Lee Teng-hui was elected. Lee's handpicked successor is Lien Chan.

In July, Lee announced Taiwan would no longer acknowledge the longstanding "one-China policy" -- first put forth by the U.S. government in 1979. It views Taiwan as part of China and contemplates that they will one day peacefully reunify.

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Biography: Strobe Talbott
Biography of James B. Steinberg
CIA -- The World Factbook 1999 -- China
President Lee Teng-hui
CIA -- The World Factbook 1999 -- Taiwan
Lien Chan Vice President of the Republic of China --A Profile--

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