Wednesday, Oct. 20

Associated Press
Wednesday, October 20, 1999

London -- President Jiang Zemin, the first Chinese head of state to visit Britain, received a warm official welcome yesterday, but an undercurrent of human-rights concerns repeatedly broke the surface.

Before his arrival, Mr. Jiang had created a stir when he listed reunification with Taiwan among "the main objectives for China by the middle of the next century." He made the comments in an interview published Monday in The Times of London.

Protesters in London scuffled with police on the ceremonial parade route as Mr. Jiang and his wife rode to Buckingham Palace with the Queen in a horse-drawn carriage.

A handful of demonstrators were among the bystanders, some holding banners that said "Free Tibet Before Trade With China." But the majority waved Chinese or British flags.

Migmar Tserling, one of the London protesters from the Free Tibet group, said police had taken away their flags and banners. "This shows how the British government is not interested in human rights but just in trade," he said.

Britain is the first stop on Mr. Jiang's two-week tour of Europe, North Africa and Saudi Arabia.

He arrived with little ceremony Monday at Heathrow Airport and received his official welcome yesterday from the Queen at Horse Guards Parade, near the national government offices. They were joined by Prime Minister Tony Blair, who visited China last year, and Foreign Secretary Robin Cook.

Relations between Britain and China have been improving since Hong Kong's handover in 1997. Britain ranks first among European countries in investment in China, with cumulative commitments of roughly $19-billion at the end of 1998. But Britain lags behind Germany, France and Italy in terms of exports to China.

Britain has expressed concern about human rights in China, including the frequent use of the death penalty and curbs on free expression and religion. Britain also has encouraged China to open a dialogue with the exiled Tibetan leader, the Dalai Lama.

In Beijing, foreign ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue said human-rights protests could harm relations between the two countries.

"A small number of hostile elements want to stir up protests during President Jiang's visit to Britain and other European countries. It would undermine relations between China and those countries," she said.

Mr. Jiang's comments about reunification with Taiwan made front-page news in the territory that China regards as a renegade province.

"We will ultimately resolve the question of Taiwan and accomplish the great cause of national reunification," the President said, though he did not specifically set a deadline of 2050 for doing it. But by placing reunification among the goals for the next half-century, Mr. Jiang set his firmest timetable yet.

Taiwanese President Lee Teng-hui dismissed the claim that the two sides should reunify over the next 50 years.

The outspoken Taiwanese leader, who has been focusing on Taiwan's efforts to rebuild after last month's devastating earthquake, tried to wave off questions about Mr. Jiang's comment. But Mr. Lee finally told reporters, "He's fooling. Don't pay attention to him."

Reunification is a sensitive issue in Taiwan, which has resisted Communist rule since the two sides split amid civil war 50 years ago.

Su Chi, chairman of Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council, said on Monday that it would be best for China to set a goal for democratization instead of reunification, because Taiwan would be willing to reunify once the mainland becomes more democratic.

Mr. Jiang is scheduled to depart Friday for Paris and begin a visit to Portugal on Oct. 26.

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