U.S. and China sew up embassy damages deal
U.S. and China sew up embassy damages deal
BEIJING (Reuters): The United States and China said on
Thursday they reached a compensation agreement on NATO's bombing
of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade in another step towards
healing a rift that plunged relations into crisis.
The agreement also covered compensation for damage to U.S.
diplomatic missions in China during violent protests against the
bombing.
Thursday's deal follows soon after a landmark pact last month
between Beijing and Washington on China's entry to the World
Trade Organization (WTO) in another indication of warming ties.
But China repeated its demands that the United States give a
satisfactory explanation of the bombing and punish those
responsible, maintaining the moral high ground for possible
future disputes, analysts said.
The United States agreed to pay China $28 million for
destruction of the Belgrade embassy, while China would pay $2.87
million for damage to U.S. missions, U.S. State Department legal
adviser David Andrews told a news conference.
"I hope this day marks the beginning of a more positive trend
in U.S.-China relations," Andrews said.
"These figures reflect what both sides see as fair payment for
the property damage based on the delegations' five meetings that
comprised an extensive review."
But there was no immediate word on when payments would be made
or who would pay first.
Andrews said the U.S. payment would be included in the budget
for the 2001 fiscal year, meaning it must be approved by a
Congress dominated by antagonism towards China in recent months.
Congress has been in an uproar over charges of Chinese nuclear
spying and human rights abuses, and faces lobbying from labor
groups against the WTO deal on which it has to vote.
The May 7 embassy bombing during NATO's spring air campaign
against Yugoslavia killed three Chinese and wounded 27.
Spurred on by a vitriolic state media campaign, protesters
burnt the U.S. consul-general's home in China's southwestern city
of Chengdu and pelted the U.S. embassy in Beijing with rocks.
Western diplomats say Washington had sought around $5 million
for damage to its missions and was reluctant to set a precedent
for compensation for damage during military conflicts.
"This was a unique and tragic event. It does not set a
precedent," a U.S. official said.
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue said the deal would
help improve China-U.S. ties but urged Washington to go further.
"The United States should make a thorough investigation,
punish those responsible, and provide China with a satisfactory
explanation of the bombing," Zhang told a news conference.
Those were among four demands an enraged China made after the
bombing. It also demanded an apology and compensation for the
embassy and the victims.
Beijing accepted $4.5 million for families of those killed or
wounded, and U.S. President Bill Clinton made a public apology.
But China has never accepted the U.S. explanation that the
bombing was a tragic mistake caused by intelligence blunders.
Diplomats said Washington was unlikely to offer further
explanation or punish any individuals.
"The Chinese probably accept it was a cock-up rather than a
conspiracy, but it's obviously not politically sound for them to
say so," said one Western diplomat.
Beijing was likely to use the issue as a trump card if
candidates for U.S. presidential elections next year advocate
toughening policies towards China, he said.
There was no immediate word on whether Thursday's deal would
lead to a resumption of dialogues suspended after the bombing,
including those on the sensitive subjects of human rights,
nuclear weapons proliferation and military issues.
Asked when such dialogues would resume, the Foreign Ministry's
Zhang repeated the demand for an explanation and punishments.
Diplomats said closer military ties would be fostered by the
new U.S. ambassador to China, retired Admiral John Prueher, who
presented his credentials on Wednesday.