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Thursday, Jan. 15, 2004

Sleeping With the Enemy

The purpose of the meeting was to foster closer military ties between Washington and Beijing. Topping the agenda were Taiwan, North Korea's nuclear weapons program and terrorism, Gen. Richard Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters after the meeting.

Jiang was the president of China until March 2003 and remains head of China's military establishment.

During the meeting, Myers and Jiang reiterated their respective countries' positions on Taiwan, which China regards as a renegade province.

The Bush administration has said that it agrees that Taiwan is part of China but has pledged to prevent Taiwan from being forcibly integrated into the mainland.

The two sides gave "positive assessments on bilateral relations in spite of their differences," said Kong Quan, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman.

"Even if there are differences," Kong said, "we believe that the two sides enjoy far more common interests than differences. To further their cooperative relationship is to the interest of the two peoples and to the peace and stability of the region and the world at large."

Jiang emphasized that the Taiwan question is the "core and most sensitive issue in China-U.S. relations."

"We have advocated for peace, unification and one country, two systems, and we wish to achieve reunification with the utmost sincerity," he said. "We will never tolerate Taiwan independence."

Jiang reiterated that "we value U.S. commitment to China's peaceful reunification and one-China policy."

Added Kong: "We believe that Gen. Myers' visit to China is a major event and will play a positive role in the furtherance of bilateral military relations and bilateral relations at large."

© 2003 Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Editor's note:
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