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Washington Apologizes for Powell's Slip of Tongue: Beijing [CND, 03/13/01] The United States apologized to China for a reference to Taiwan as the Republic of China by its Secretary of State Collin Powell, Hong Kong iMail reported on Tuesday, citing a Chinese senior foreign affairs official. Without releasing further details on Washington's apology, the Vice Minister of Foreign Affair LI Zhaoxing, a former ambassador to the United States, said, "The US side has expressed its regret [over the incident] to our embassy in Washington. There is only one China in the world and he [Mr. Powell] should know this well." Mr. Powell called Taiwan the Republic of China last week in his testimony to the U.S. House of Representatives' International Relations Committee, which was regarded by Beijing as a diplomatic faux pas. China has indicated a strong opposition to the use of the Republic of China as an attempt to create "two Chinas". In response to the weapon sales to Taiwan, which include sales of destroyers and aircrafts equipped with advanced missile systems, Mr. Li commented, "This would not be in favor of China's peaceful reunification, nor in the interests of peace in this region." A delegation led by Vice Premier QIAN Qichen will visit the United States next Sunday, trying to stop the deal which is due to be decided next month. However, Mr. Powell insisted last week that the United States have no obligation to consult Beijing over the weapons sales. (SUN Xiaoan)