Rice raises concern over military, rights during China visit<\/p>\n
Cindy Sui, Agence France-Presse\/Beijing<\/p>\n
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice left Beijing on Sunday
\ncalling U.S.-Sino relations positive and reiterating Washington's
\nview that China is not a threat, but raised concerns with China's
\nleaders over the country's military buildup, copyright violations
\nand human rights.<\/p>\n
Despite rows over Chinese textile exports, the surging U.S.
\ntrade deficit with China and the Chinese currency's
\ninflexibility, Rice, who is on a four-nation Asian tour that
\ntakes her next to Thailand, said relations were \"complex\" but
\ngood.<\/p>\n
\"There are many extremely positive elements. I still think
\nthat this relationship has a great momentum. It still has more
\npositives than negatives,\" Rice told a news briefing after
\nmeeting Chinese leaders.<\/p>\n
At the same time, Rice said she raised concerns over the
\nimpact on the region of China's massive military buildup, saying
\nthe United States was \"no doubt\" concerned over its size and
\npace. \"(But) this does not mean that we view China as a threat,'
\nshe said.<\/p>\n
Still, tensions with Taiwan -- the region's most likely
\nmilitary flashpoint -- remain a worry, Rice said, urging Beijing
\nto reach out to the island's elected leadership.<\/p>\n
Beijing sees Taiwan as part of its territory awaiting
\nreunification, threatening to invade if the island moves towards
\nformal independence, but has recently courted Taiwan's opposition
\nparties, inviting two key leaders to visit China.<\/p>\n
Rice called those meetings \"a good thing,\" but said that
\nWashington hoped Beijing \"would extend to contacts with the
\nelected government of Taiwan\".<\/p>\n
In response, Chinese President Hu Jintao told Rice that
\nBeijing was determined to improve cross-strait relations, but
\nalso urged Washington to remain vigilant for \"secessionist\"
\nforces pushing for independence, the Xinhua news agency reported.<\/p>\n
The effects of Asia's largest economy were also high on the
\ntalks agenda, with U.S. lawmakers and businesses stepping up
\npressure on China recently over the trade deficit and its pegged
\ncurrency, which the U.S. blames for giving China an unfair trade
\nadvantage and contributing to the loss of U.S. jobs.<\/p>\n
The aggressive bid by Chinese state-owned oil giant China
\nNational Offshore Oil Corp. (CNOOC) for California-based Unocal
\nhas sparked further U.S. worries of China's growing economic
\nclout.<\/p>\n
\"A growing Chinese economy is a good thing. (But) it needs to
\ndo so within the context of rules,\" Rice said on Sunday.<\/p>\n
\"The rules-based WTO framework into which China has entered is
\nthe only way to assure that an economy of this size has a good
\neffect on the international economy as a whole.\"<\/p>\n
She said she emphasized, particularly to Premier Wen Jiabao,
\nthe importance of safeguarding intellectual property rights.
\nCopyright violations are estimated to cost U.S. businesses
\nbillions of dollars annually.<\/p>\n
Yet while the Chinese economy is transitioning in ways \"that
\nare sometimes problematic\" for the American economy, Rice said
\ntrade ties are still \"very healthy, robust and active\".<\/p>\n
In meetings with Chinese leaders, Rice said she also raised
\nconcerns about human rights and religious freedom, including
\nindividual cases, but did not elaborate.<\/p>\n
She said she urged China to \"reach out to the Dalai Lama\",
\nsaying the exiled Tibetan leader was \"really of no threat to
\nChina\".<\/p>\n
Her comments came on the heels of the first ever talks between
\nthe Dalai Lama's envoys and Beijing outside Chinese soil.<\/p>\n
China's cooperation in fighting terrorism and in helping to
\nconvince North Korea to return to multilateral nuclear crisis
\ntalks later this month further boosted bilateral ties, Rice said.<\/p>\n
President Hu said China highly valued its relations with the
\nUnited States, adding that \"China is ready to work along with the
\nUnited States to strengthen dialogue, mutual trust and
\ncooperation, respect and care for each other's concerns, in an
\neffort to make the bilateral relations achieve greater progress,\"
\nXinhua reported.<\/p>\n
Rice's visit to China is her second in three months. As well
\nas Thailand, she will also make stops in Japan and South Korea.<\/p>",
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