David E Sanger(The New York Times)
(Shanghai, October 19)
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President Bush and President Jiang Zemin of China met for the first time here this morning and emerged with Bush declaring that China had agreed to "cooperate with intelligence matters and interdict the financing" of major terrorist groups.
In a brief joint news conference after their meeting at a suburban retreat used by Communist Party leaders, Bush also said that he was still looking for evidence of whether a foreign power or terrorist group was coordinating the anthrax attacks in the US, but he also for the first time warned that the source of the attacks could be an American conducting what he called "a hoax."
"Anybody in America who would use this opportunity to threaten our citizens" would be vigorously prosecuted, he said. "We're looking," he said, "we're on the search to find out who's responsible for these evil acts."
Bush came here seeking China's approval, or at least acquiescence, for his war on terrorism, and he received much of what he sought. At the news conference, Jiang said, "I've made clear we are opposed to terrorism in all forms." But he glided past a question about whether he would specifically endorse the American military acts in Afghanistan, saying that he hoped any such action would have "clearly defined targets," would be "aimed accurately, with few civilian casualties" and would be guided by the United Nations.
Bush sought and received a general endorsement of his actions from the UN but has declined to put the military action under a UN command, calling it an act of self-defence.
Some areas of continuing disagreement were clear from the two leaders' comments, but neither man dwelt on traditional sore points in the Washington-Beijing relationship. Bush made no reference to human rights violations in China, though he did say that any battle against terrorists "must never be an excuse to persecute minorities." He appeared to be referring to the Chinese actions against Muslim separatists and others who have battled the central government in China. The US has been concerned that Jiang would use the battle against terrorism to justify repression in western regions, including those near Afghanistan.
The US and China have rarely shared intelligence, and the intelligence relationship has been particularly testy since an American EP-3 surveillance plane collided with a Chinese fighter not far from here last spring. It took 10 days for the American crew to be returned, and Bush and Jiang never talked during that incident.
Jiang greeted President Bush this morning on familiar ground: at the Western Guest House.
Both Bush and Jiang appeared to be enjoying each other's company today, though at moments Bush looked both tired and tense. After Jiang welcomed him, Bush said, "I, too, felt like we had a good meeting." But he stopped well short of his comments after his first meeting with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia when he said he had looked into Putin's eyes and seen a man whom he could trust.
Instead, Bush referred repeatedly today to the "common understanding" between the US and China about "the magnitude of the threat posed by international terrorism." He made no reference to China as a "strategic competitor."
Both Washington and Beijing have made clear that they seek a major improvement in their relationship.
In recent weeks, Jiang has been supportive of Bush's aims, but he has insisted that any military actions should be taken under the auspices of the UN.
The military strikes against the Taliban in Afghanistan, however, work to China's advantage. China shares a short border with Afghanistan, and Muslim Uighur separatists in that region have been a continuing problem for Jiang. Under the banner of fighting terrorism, he hopes to win implicit endorsement for Beijing's continuing efforts to beat back any moves toward independence in Xinjiang.
More problematic for Bush on this visit is selling his plan to build a missile defence system, which China has steadfastly opposed. Last week, Bush reiterated his intention to move forward with the anti-missile programme.
China blacks out live TV coverage
Bill Clinton made history in 1998 when he sparred openly with Chinese counterpart Jiang Zemin in a news conference in Beijing broadcast live and uncensored across China on state television.
But when his successor, George W. Bush, held a news conference with Jiang following their first ever meeting in Shanghai on Friday, Chinese viewers saw only a delayed and heavily edited version.
The live television blackout highlights China's still strict media controls and lingering reservations about Bush, who came to office calling China a "strategic competitor" instead of the "strategic partner" of his predecessor.
"China wanted to have this as discreet as possible," said one source close to the negotiations over coverage of the news conference. "From day one they said this is not going to be transmitted live in China."
"The US was only pushing for live transmission to the United States."