China-U.S: Working towards a partnership?

By Willy Wo-lap Lam
Senior China Analyst

(CNN) -- Chinese President Jiang Zemin will tell visiting U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell that Beijing hopes Washington will return to the position on Taiwan taken by previous administrations.

Jiang is also expected to propose that both sides work towards some form of partnership for the new century.

Beijing analysts say that after the recent release of three Chinese-American scholars detained for alleged spying, the air is cleared for a frank exchange of views.

A Chinese diplomatic source said Jiang was anxious that Powell and President George W. Bush go back to former president Bill Clinton's position on Taiwan.

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Clinton in 1998 articulated the so-called three nos policy: no to Taiwan independence; no to one China, one Taiwan; and no to Taiwan joining international organizations that require statehood as a condition for membership.

Bush, on the other hand, has refused to even acknowledge the existence of the three nos precept.

The U.S. president is also less ambiguous regarding the deployment of American forces to defend Taiwan against a mainland attack.

As People's Daily commentator Gu Ping pointed out, Taiwan still lies at the center of bilateral wrangling.

"The Taiwan issue is at the core of China's national interest, yet it is not America's core national interest," Gu indicated. "There is no need for the U.S. to get burnt because of the Taiwan question."

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On more general terms, Jiang is expected to explore with Powell the possibilities of returning to the more cordial bilateral ties under the Clinton administration.

Analysts said that in internal discussions Jiang indicated it would be very difficult to return to the "constructive, strategic partnership" that he had agreed with Clinton to forge.

As the quasi-official China News Service pointed out in a commentary, relations with the U.S. would be "both cooperation and competition."

However, the analysts said, Jiang might push for a loose form of partnership that includes more regular exchanges between officials, including military officers.

Hi-tech exports

Jiang will also explore the possibilities of a resumption of the export of U.S. hi-tech items to China.

A party source said improving ties with the U.S. was still a key foundation of Jiang's foreign policy.

"Jiang needs a diplomatic success story to bolster his position at the upcoming 16th party congress,'' the source said.

"And he has laid down elaborate preparations to ensure that the October summit with Bush will be successful."

The source said that having protected his flank with a friendship treaty with Moscow earlier this month, Jiang would be conducting frank discussions with Powell, seen by the Chinese as a moderate in Bush's team.