Parker: Some analysts in the United States say that a China growing at 10 percent a year will inevitably become an economic superpower and set a course toward confrontation with the United States. Is this possible?
Zhu: I’ve seen the book ““The Coming Conflict with China’’ and Samuel Huntington’s ““The Clash of Civilizations.’’ It’s ridiculous. For more than 150 years, China has been subjected to foreign aggression and we have suffered egregiously. China’s st ill got a long way to go to become a developed country. Even when China becomes strong and developed, China will never get involved in aggression against other countries or interfere in other countries’ internal affairs.
As for the debate in the U.S., I think it’s a political struggle with no real purpose. On the question of [whether China made improper political contributions to U.S. politicians], if you say Taiwan made them, I might believe it. But if you say Chi na took part, there is no basis in fact.
Newsweek is reporting that China put $1 million into America’s political process through its consulates and embassy in the United States. Is this true?
Of course I think this is totally untrue. Congress is investigating these charges. They have started investigating Chinese bank branches in the U.S. With this investigation not yet completed, how can people draw conclusions? A person alleged to hav e given contributions is Wang Jun [chairman of China International Trust and Investment Corporation]. He has been depicted as an arms dealer and alleged to have made political contributions. I once asked him: ““You must be accountable to me. Have you mad e such contributions?’’ And he said: ““I have no money!’’ I said: ““If you really have done such things, I will dismiss you from the company.’’ He said: ““I pledge on my personal integrity I have never done such things.’’ This matter has been played up s o much due to the political needs of some people in the United States. It has nothing to do with China.
Does China envy Taiwan’s lobbying ability?
We don’t envy them. We do things based on principles. Some friends advise us to do lobbying in the United States. But we have principles. I don’t think we can learn from Taiwan in this regard. Of course, we have invited members of Congress to visit China. I don’t think our hospitality runs counter to any principles. We even invite those members of Congress who are not so friendly to China, such as Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi [Democrat of California].
Doesn’t it bother you that some people believe that China can’t be trusted to keep its promise to allow Hong Kong its freedoms?
When Vice President Al Gore and Speaker Newt Gingrich came to China, I discussed this with both of them. I said to Mr. Gingrich that although the U.S. House of Representatives has adopted [a law to monitor Hong Kong], for that I can’t criticize you . But it is entirely unnecessary to adopt such an act. It is not the U.S. but China that cares the most about Hong Kong. Hong Kong’s return to China is a matter concerning sovereignty. All people of Chinese origin around the world will rejoice, be they o n the left or right.
I can be very frank to my American friends. According to knowledge I have, on all the matters concerning Hong Kong, including the election of [Hong Kong Chief Executive] C. H. Tung and members of the provisional legislature, the top leadership of t he Chinese government applied no influence whatsoever.
After the Hong Kong handover, will China set a timetable for reunification with Taiwan?
Our terms for Taiwan’s return to the motherland are more generous. We will not deploy troops or station troops on Taiwan, and Taiwan’s leaders can come to be leaders in the central government. But as for when Taiwan will return to the motherland, i t will be when forces in the U.S. no longer support an independent Taiwan.
But America has a one-China policy.
Of course there are the three joint communiques. But sometimes people’s actions do not entirely match their words, and sometimes the end result may not be the same as people’s intentions.
Are you also saying that you can’t do business with Lee Teng-hui?
Once President Jiang Zemin said the head of Taiwan could come to be the vice president of China. And Lee Teng-hui said, ““I could be president of China!’’ We always have patience and will continue to have patience. It is our consistent policy that we will achieve reunification through peaceful means. We will not give up the military option. But of course, we will work toward a peaceful reunification of the motherland.
Did China’s missile tests off Taiwan last year discourage what you regard as Lee Teng-hui’s push for independence?
Those were normal exercises. I don’t think he will really pull back when he can purchase and import advanced weapons from the U.S. at will.
