NEWS - Beijing wary of 'East Asian

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Subject: NEWS - Beijing wary of 'East Asian Nato threat'

South China Morning Post - Monday  May 31  1999

Other News

Beijing wary of 'East Asian Nato threat'

WILLY WO-LAP LAM
Beijing has raised its guard against what it considers to be efforts by
Washington and Tokyo to spearhead the formation of an "East Asian Nato".

In internal briefings to cadres, foreign policy and military officers
have
pointed out the United States-Japan Security Guidelines could underpin a
Nato-like military structure, which might intervene in Chinese affairs
should a conflict break out over Taiwan, Tibet or Xinjiang.

One paper written by national security experts said it was no
coincidence
that the US-Japan Security Guidelines were passed by the Japanese
parliament
as Nato upgraded attacks on Serbia under the principle of
humanitarianism
overriding national boundaries.

The Diet's recent endorsement also coincided with Washington's approval
of
the sale of new weapons to Taiwan and increased congressional support
for
Taiwan's inclusion in the theatre missile defence system.

It is understood that Chinese diplomats have made strong representations
to
their Japanese and American counterparts over the "anti-China" elements
of
the guidelines.

Western diplomats said Beijing feared that an "East Asian Nato" - which
might also incorporate other US allies in Asia - would thwart China's
territorial claims not only to Taiwan, but also to the Spratly and
Diaoyu
islands.

The diplomats said in a recent briefing for the leadership, PLA generals
indicated China already possessed the wherewithal to thwart the
"conspiracies" of a potential East Asian Nato.

However, the generals were pressing the Politburo for more funds and
resources to develop effective weapons, particularly missiles.

Meanwhile, moderate elements in the leadership headed by President Jiang
Zemin and Premier Zhu Rongji are trying to rein in the xenophobic
sentiments
of civilian and military hardliners by stressing Deng Xiaoping's goal of
"taking economic construction as the key task".

Over the weekend, the state media played up a speech by Vice-President
Hu
Jintao urging the continuation of the Deng line.

"We must continue to unswervingly uphold the principle of taking
economic
construction as our central task and push forward reform and the
open-door
policy assiduously," Mr Hu said.


The latest issue of the offi cial Outlook weekly also argued against
giving
up Deng's diplomatic principles.

"Deng Xiaoping's diplomatic thoughts have made clear that, in spite of
the
strong gales and high waves in the international arena, we must insist
on
focusing on the economy and developing national strength," it said.

Nearly half of Americans - 46 per cent - believe the mainland poses a
"serious threat" to the United States, according to survey results
released
at the weekend.
However, 58 per cent of respondents said the US should continue to
maintain
close economic ties with Beijing, the poll by CNN and Time magazine
found.

The survey found 81 per cent of US citizens believed mainland spies
continued to work in US Government facilities, after the release of the
Cox
report alleging Beijing had obtained classified US defence secrets.

More than half of people surveyed blamed the Clinton administration for
Beijing's success in obtaining US military secrets. More than half said
past
administrations were also to blame.