US
Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld said on Monday relations with
China were evolving and made light of talk of a split between him
and Secretary of State Colin Powell on how to approach China and
other issues, according to a China Daily report.
The two men appeared side-by-side at a news conference in
Australia, where they attended talks with their counterparts,
facing questioning about their alleged difference in approach.
Powell repeatedly characterised China as a "friend" during a visit
to Beijing at the weekend and told reporters en route from China to
Australia late Sunday that he had decided to stop talking about
China as a "strategic competitor".
Rumsfeld, who flew round the world to join Powell in Canberra,
said, "Colin Powell and I talk every day and meet several times a
week and I don't know that there's a difference between us."
He
added: "My personal view is that the People's Republic of China's
future is not yet written, that they are evolving. Our relationship
with them is multi-faceted, it's political, it's economic, and
clearly there are security implications."
Asked if he had also decided to stop calling China a strategic
competitor, a phrase first adopted during President George W.
Bush's election campaign, he said, "I don't recall using that
phrase. I think you suggested that I had."
"I
haven't put any Rumsfeldian codewords on it," he said, in a
lighthearted exchange with reporters.
Later he was asked about US plans for a missile defence, a system
opposed by Russia, China and many other countries, including US
allies.
Powell is often at pains to emphasise the US desire for
consultations with other countries as it proceeds with developing
the system, in hope of winning them round to the US position that
the post-Cold War world needs a new strategic framework to fight
"new threats".
During questioning, a reporter asked, "Do you agree on
everything?"
Rumsfeld paused and, to loud laughs from officials and media,
replied in a deeply ironic and humorous tone, "Except for those few
cases where Colin's still learning."
Earlier he was asked about another foreign policy matter on which
there have been reports of a split between hardliners and moderates
within the Bush administration.
Powell visited South Korea last week and said he was ready for
talks with North Korea any time, anywhere.
Asked if he was happy with this formulation, Rumsfeld said, slowly
for emphasis, "With respect to North Korea, I stand fully behind
Secretary Powell's positions."
(CIIC 07/31/2001)