OCTOBER 11 TAO PRESS BRIEFING: CROSS-STRAIT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 021528 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL CH TW SUBJECT: OCTOBER 11 TAO PRESS BRIEFING: CROSS-STRAIT AGRICULTURAL FORUM, NO CONFIRMATION OF HU JINTAO-LIEN CHAN MEETING, CONSTITUTIONAL REFORMS, POSSIBLE MA YING-JEOU VISIT ¶1. Key points made at the October 11 Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) press briefing were: -- Following comments on the October 17-18 Cross- Strait Agricultural Forum in Boao, Hainan Province, the TAO spokesperson deflected a question about a possible meeting between President Hu Jintao and former KMT Chairman Lien Chan at the Cross-Strait Agricultural Forum. -- China firmly opposes proposed DPP "constitutional reforms" relating to territory and sovereignty and relations between Taiwan and the Mainland. -- Chen Shui-bian has gone back on his word, repeatedly renouncing his "four noes and one without" promises. -- Regarding a potential future visit by KMT Chairman Ma Ying-jeou to the mainland, China will respect Ma's views. Unspecified Leaders to Attend Agriculture Forum -------------- -- ¶2. Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) Director General for Economics He Shizhong led off the October 11 TAO press conference with a lengthy description of the arrangements for the October Cross-Strait Agricultural Forum to be held at Boao, Hainan Province and related events in other cities. DG He reported that Central Party and State Council leaders, leaders from Hainan and Fujian Provinces and leaders of the KMT, PFP and others would attend the forum. Spokesperson Li Weiyi deflected reporter's questions on a possible meeting between President Hu Jintao and former KMT Chairman Lien Chan, at the forum, stating that he had nothing to add to DG He's information. Proposed "Constitutional Reforms" -------------- ¶3. China firmly opposes "constitutional reforms" proposed by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) involving territory, sovereignty and relations between Taiwan and the mainland. In meetings last year with mainland officials, James Soong, Chairman of the People's First Party (PFP),said that Chen Shui-bian had repeated to him on February 24 the "four noes and one without" promise and his guarantee that "constitutional reforms" would not include changes to "territory," "sovereignty" or the Taiwan straits status quo. China opposes and is highly concerned about Chen Shui-bian's going back on his word, breaking his promises, continuing with his "de jure independence" plot and damaging the stability of cross-Strait relations, said Li Weiyi. Possibility of Ma Ying-Jeoh visiting the mainland -------------- -------------- ¶4. "As we have previously expressed, on the question of when Ma Ying-jeou might visit the Mainland, we fully respect his own views," said Li when asked if the mainland might invite Ma Ying-Jeoh, current KMT Chairman, to visit after December. Campaign to Oust Chen Shui-bian -------------- ¶5. Asked if anti-Chen protests could impact the Cross-Strait Agricultural Forum and, if so, what manner of response the mainland would take, Li said only that China is paying attention to relevant reports in the Taiwan media. Cross-Strait Agricultural Forum and Exhibition -------------- - ¶6. Following the two-day Agricultural Forum in Boao, Hainan Province on October 17-18, a cross-Strait agricultural exhibition will be held in Xiamen City, Fujian Province. Over 400 cross-Strait representatives will attend, including more than 200 from Taiwan's KMT, PFP, and New Party. After the exhibition, the groups from Taiwan will separately visit Shandong, Guangdong and Guangxi provinces, as well as the Cross-Strait Agricultural Cooperation Experimental District in Fujian and the Taiwan Farmers BEIJING 00021528 002 OF 002 Entrepreneurial Park. ¶7. The Cross-Strait Agricultural Forum is an important result of the exchange and dialogue promoted by the Chinese Communist Party and the KMT, Li stated. The event has momentous significance in promoting cross-Strait exchange and cooperation, achieving win- win results and mutual prosperity. According to 2005 year-end statistics, over 5000 Taiwan Farmers' Enterprises have invested in the mainland, totaling US$4 billion. SEDNEY