TAIWAN: TAO SPOKESPERSON REPEATS TAO DIRECTOR'S

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 003471

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV ETRD CH TW
SUBJECT: TAIWAN: TAO SPOKESPERSON REPEATS TAO DIRECTOR'S
ADMONITION ON ABOLITION OF NATIONAL REUNIFICATION COUNCIL,
OUTLINES TAIWAN TOURISM PROMOTION PLAN

REF: FBIS 20060222052027

Summary
--------------


1. Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) spokesperson Li Wei
reiterated TAO Director Chen Yunlin's February 22
warning that the abolition of the National Unification
Council and the National Unification Guidelines would
severely damage cross-Straits relations, responding to
Taiwan reporters' questions during the February 24 TAO
press briefing. TAO and China National Tourism
Administration officials outlined the Mainland's
efforts to open up the Taiwan tourism market to
Mainland residents, noting that the Cross-Strait
Tourism Exchange Association has been assigned to
coordinate this work with Taiwan tourism
organizations. They criticized Taiwan's division of
Mainland travelers into separate categories and called
on Taiwan to remove obstructive policies. Asserting
that the Mainland will continue to take positive
measures to care for the Taiwan people, Li argued that
the Taiwan authorities' politicized steps have
hindered free trade. End Summary.

Beijing Will Remain Vigilant of Chen's Moves
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2. During the regularly scheduled February 24 Taiwan
Affairs Office (TAO) press briefing, TAO Spokesperson
Li Weiyi quoted directly from TAO Director Chen
Yunlin's February 22 interview with the official
Xinhua News Agency (ref),when responding to reporters
questions about the Chen Shui-bian's recent remarks
proposing the elimination of the National Unification
Council and National Unification Guidelines. (Note:
The general practice in TAO briefings is for the
spokesperson to begin with a prepared statement, which
generally reflects the state of cross-Strait
relations. Li did not issue a statement and went
straight to questions.) He asserted that the Taiwan
leadership's moves to promote the abolition of the
National Unification Council and National Unification
Guidelines are a dangerous sign of an escalation of
Taiwan separatists' activities. If the Taiwan
authorities insist on abolishing the National
Unification Council and the National Unification
Guideline, cross-Straits relations will be severely
damaged and the fundamental interests of the Taiwan
compatriots will be harmed. The Mainland will take
sincere measures to maintain cross-strait peace, Li
continued. He stated that Beijing will closely follow
the development of the situation and prepare to deal
with any possible complicated situation at any time.
Li said he had no information on whether a special
envoy has come to the Mainland to discuss the recent
developments.

Mainland Highlights Taiwan Tourism Promotion Efforts
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3. TAO Exchange Bureau Director Dai Xiaofeng and
China National Tourism Administration Tourism
Promotion Director General Liu Kezhi outlined the
Mainland's efforts to open up the Taiwan tourism
market to Mainland residents since Beijing's May 2005
approval of the plan. They noted China Tourism
Administration Director Shao Qiwei's October 28-
November 6, 2006 visit to Taiwan as the head of a
delegation comprised of each province's tourism
officials and large tourism operators. During the
trip, Shao, who visited in his capacity as the
Chairman of the China Tourism Association, formally
empowered the Cross-Strait Tourism Exchange
Association to work with Taiwan tourism organizations
to promote Mainland tourism to Taiwan.


4. The two officials also listed a number of events
that have enhanced contact between the Mainland and
Taiwan tourism industries, including the September
2005 Cross-Strait Tourism Exhibition in Xiamen and the
China International Travel Mart in Kunming in
November, which marked the first time Taiwan
representatives attended. The Mainland is encouraging
its tourism representatives to attend the
International Taipei Tourism Fair in November 2006.


5. Liu asserted that the next step in implementing
the plan is to encourage Mainland and Taiwan tourism
organizations to coordinate the details, especially
security measures for Mainland visitors. After a

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consensus is reached these organizations should sign
an MOU or other form of agreement ensuring the orderly
handling of Mainland tourism. Liu called on Taiwan to
make joint efforts to promote mutually beneficial
cross-Strait travel. He noted that the Mainland will
soon issue management regulations governing travel to
Taiwan and indicated that the Taiwan market will be
opened up for Mainlanders from different parts of the
country in stages.

Taiwan Should Remove Obstructive Travel Policies
-------------- ---


6. Asked about Taiwan's assertions that the Taiwan
tourism market is already open to Mainland visitors,
both Liu and Dai criticized Taiwan's division of
Mainland travelers into three distinct categories.
This system bars the first category, Mainland
permanent residents, from visiting, they stated. Liu
called on Taiwan to take a constructive attitude
toward opening up the travel market and to remove
obstructive policies. Dai added that Taiwan will not
become an approved destination status until Taiwan
permits travel by the first category of Mainland
residents. Asked about complications to a recently
planned joint entertainment program by Fujian and
Taiwan Dongsen Television stations, Dai remarked that
it was very inappropriate for the Taiwan authorities
to cancel the Mainland delegation's trip just prior to
the scheduled departure. He stated that the Mainland
tourism delegation led by Shao Qiwei also encountered
many restrictions, such as being refused interviews
with the local press.

Mainland Will Continue to Care for the Taiwan People
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7. Li Weiyi asserted that the Mainland is making
efforts to implement any unilateral plan that benefits
the Taiwan people, but it also requires Taiwan to
cooperate and take concrete steps. Responding to the
CCTV correspondent's question, he stated that the
Mainland's tax breaks on Taiwan agricultural products
have led to a significant increase in Taiwan
agricultural imports, which totaled USD 3.22 million
in 2005. This year the Mainland will take positive
measures to care for the Taiwan people's interests.
The Taiwan authorities' politicized steps have
obstructed the free trade of agricultural products, Li
argued, adding that Taiwan farmers will pass judgment
on their own.
Sedney