Published by: World Tibet Network News Wednesday, December 10th, 1997 International Human Rights Day

[Lateline 12/9/97]

U.S. President Bill Clinton welcomed Wei Jingsheng, China's prominent dissident, to the White House Monday, three weeks after his release from a Chinese jail on medical parole, while Xinhua news agency quoted a foreign ministry spokesman as saying that "this act of the U.S. side is totally wrong, and the Chinese side expresses its strong resentment against and firm opposition to the meeting,"

At a news conference after the White House session, Wei said he had warned the president not to be "deceived" by the Communist authorities in Beijing. He said he and Clinton had vowed to maintain "close contact."

"I told him about some of the realities in China ... and expressed hope that in dealing with the Communists, the United States will not be deceived," Wei said through an interpreter.

In an apparent effort to limit possible harm to improving Sino-American ties, the White House did not immediately put out its own account of the session. Instead of inviting the press to take pictures of the meeting, Clinton's staff released a snapshot of their own. The session took place outside the Oval Office, Wei's associates said. They said Clinton was accompanied at the session by Sandy Berger, his national security adviser.

Pressed on why he had warned Clinton against being deceived, Wei said the Chinese Communists did not abide by the rule of law. "In dealing with the Communists, do not pay before the goods are delivered," he claimed.

Wei told an advocate for "greater Tibetan autonomy" that he was also eager to meet the Dalai Lama, the exiled spiritual and political "leader" of the Tibet.