Protest Over Taiwan Leader Ends After Four Months

(International Herald Tribune, Wednesday, October 18, 1995)

[Reuters]

BEIJING - China's ambassador to the United States, Li Daoyu, will return to his post in Washington this week, four months after Beijing withdrew him to protest a U.S. visit made by Taiwan's president, Beijing said Tuesday.

A Foreign Ministry spokesman, Chen Jian, said Mr. Li would go to Washington and attend a summit meeting between President Bill Clinton and China's president, Jiang Zemin, next week.

The two presidents will meet in New York on Tuesday to try to improve ties, which plummeted to what Beijing has called their lowest level since diplomatic ties were established in 1979. The slide was provoked after a private visit to the United States in June by President Lee Teng-hui of Taiwan.

"The two countries have a wide range of common interests and shoulder a major responsibility for peace and development for the whole world and therefore a meeting between the two leaders is necessary and useful," Mr. Chen said.

China, which regards Taiwan as a breakaway province, has demanded that Washington promise not to allow further visits by Mr.Lee. Washington has declined to make such a pledge.

Mr. Li's return is another step toward the gradual normalization of relations between China and the United States.

The U.S. Embassy in Beijing has had no ambassador since the summer, when J. Stapleton Roy returned home at the end of his term.

The Clinton nominee to succeed him, former Senator James Sasser of Tennessee, has been involved in Senate hearings in Washington intended to win approval for his appointment.