Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Bush urges China to grant more political freedom Charles Dharapak / The Associated Press U.S. President George W. Bush, left, meets with Japan’s Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi at the Kyoto State Guest House in Kyoto, Japan, on Wednesday. President Bush prodded China on Wednesday to grant more political freedom to its 1.3 billion people and held up archrival Taiwan as a society that successfully moved from repression to democracy as it opened its economy. Terence Hunt THE ASSOCIATED PRESS KYOTO, Japan — President Bush prodded China on Wednesday to grant more political freedom to its 1.3 billion people and held up archrival Taiwan as a society that successfully moved from repression to democracy as it opened its economy. In remarks sure to rile Beijing, Bush suggested China should follow Taiwan’s path. “Modern Taiwan is free and democratic and prosperous. By embracing freedom at all levels, Taiwan has delivered prosperity to its people and created a free and democratic Chinese society,” the president said. Bush made his remarks in the advance text of a speech that was to be the cornerstone address of his Asian trip. From Japan, he will continue to South Korea, China and Mongolia. At a state guest house, Bush met with Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, an unflinching ally despite the president’s record-low popularity and mounting problems at home. The president called Koizumi his “buddy.” Bush wants Japan to play a stronger role in Asian security issues, perhaps as a counterbalance to China’s growing strength, vast army and designs on U.S. ally Taiwan. Koizumi supported the U.S. led invasion of Iraq and made an unpopular decision to send noncombat troops there in January 2004. That mission expires next month and Bush has indicated he wouldn’t press his friend for a decision on whether to extend it. In his prepared speech, Bush said that China’s economic growth must be accompanied by more freedoms for its people. “As China reforms its economy,” the president said, “its leaders are finding that once the door to freedom is opened even a crack, it cannot be closed. As the people of China grow in prosperity, their demands for political freedom will grow as well.” Bush also lectured China about opening its economy to foreign competition to narrow the expected $200 billion trade surplus with the United States. “China needs to provide a level playing field for American businesses seeking access to Chinas market,” Bush said. Further, he said, China must fulfill its promise to move toward a more market-based currency. Bushs warm words about Taiwan could chill his reception in Beijing later this week when the president, to make a point about religious freedom, also plans to worship at one of five officially recognized Protestant churches in the city. Bush said Chinese President Hu Jintao has asserted that his vision of “peaceful development” will make the Chinese people more prosperous. “I have pointed out that the people of China want more freedom to express themselves ... to worship without state control ... and to print Bibles and other sacred texts without state control,” Bush said. By talking about Taiwan, Bush was raising an issue that has been a major U.S.-Chinese irritant. Taiwan, 100 miles off Chinas southern coast, split from the mainland when nationalist leaders fled there in 1949 during Chinas civil war. Since then, Beijing has threatened repeatedly to use force against the self governed island that China claims as its own. The island has had de facto independence for more than 50 years, largely because of American support. U.S. officials were taken aback when a Chinese general said last July that Beijing might respond with nuclear weapons if the U.S. were to attack China in a conflict over Taiwan. Maj. Gen. Zhu Chenghu, a dean at Chinas National Defense University, said that was his personal view and not government policy. While saluting Taiwan’s progress and urging China t^B take more steps, Bush stressed that the United States was not changing its official policy that there is one China — including Taiwan — or its position that there should be no unilateral attempt to change the status quo by either side. The United States continues to stress a need for dialogue between China and Taiwan “that leads to a peaceful resolution of their differences,” Bush said. In Washington, meanwhile, Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., criticized the administrations China strategy™* “Chinas nondemocrati^P { government has taken actions and pursued policies that understandably stoke concerns and fears in America,” Reid said in a letter urging progress in the areas of security, trade and human rights. “The current ad hoc, inconsistent and essentially aimless approach of U.S. policy toward China has exacerbated these fears.” This is the first trip to Asia of Bushs second term, which he opened with a promise to confront oppressive rule around the world in the name spreading freedom. He has been muted in his criticism of Chinas human rights policies, and his words in Asia will be closely read as a measure of his sincerity. r come <ee why ■ Cable with HBO Included ♦ High Speed Internet Resident Computer Lab ♦ XBox Game Room Billiards Table Resort Style Pool and Spa Electronic Deadbolts www. legesu Office Hours: Mon - Fri: 9 A.M.* 5:00 P.M. | Sat: 10 A.M - 5 P.M. | Sun: 12:00 P.M. - 5 P.M. I