MAY 30 TAO PRESS BRIEFING: CHEN SHUI-BIAN PLOTS,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 003621

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL ETRD ECON CH TW
SUBJECT: MAY 30 TAO PRESS BRIEFING: CHEN SHUI-BIAN PLOTS,
UN MEMBERSHIP, LEE TENG-HUI TO JAPAN, KMT PARTY
CONSTITUTION, MA YING-JEOU AND U.S. RELATIONS, CROSS-STRAIT
TRANSPORT


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


1. Key points at the May 30 Taiwan Affairs Office
(TAO) press briefing were:

-- The TAO is highly concerned about Chen Shui-bian
and the DPP's push for a referendum on applying for
membership in the UN under the name "Taiwan."

-- Japan should abide by the three political joint
documents between the two countries, stick to
commitments made on the Taiwan issue and not provide a
platform for the Taiwan separatist movement.

-- Transportation Ministry Water Transportation
Department Director General Song Dexing provided
details about five recently announced policy measures
to promote cross-Strait direct shipping by sea. He
charged that Taiwan authorities' restrictive policies
are hindering progress on building such links.
End summary.

DPP, Chen Shui-bian's Plots, UN Membership
--------------


2. At the opening of the May 30 regular TAO press
briefing, spokesman Li Weiyi issued a long statement
condemning Chen Shui-bian's "radical" and "brazen"
attempts to implement "Taiwan independence," such as
"name-changing," "new Constitutions" and "de-
Sinification." Li stressed that attempts to separate
Taiwan from China are doomed to fail and will never be
tolerated by any person or group under any name. He
also underlined the TAO stance that there is a
difference between the majority of DPP members and a
small number of people advocating "Taiwan
independence," adding that the Mainland is willing to
engage in positive exchange and cooperation.
Responding to a Xinhua News Agency question the
matter, Li said the TAO is highly concerned about Chen
Shui-bian and the DPP's push for a referendum on
applying for membership in the UN under the name
"Taiwan" and called the effort "a plot to secede from
China."

Lee Teng-hui's Visit to Japan
--------------


3. When asked about former Taiwan "President" Lee
Teng-hui's "private travel" to Japan, the spokesman
called on Japan to abide by the three political joint
documents between the two countries, stick to
commitments made on the Taiwan issue and not provide a
platform for the Taiwan separatist movement.

KMT Revises Party Constitution
--------------


4. Asked if the KMT had discussed with the TAO
changes to the KMT party constitution that replaced
the word "unification" with "peaceful development," Li
replied that the TAO has seen the relevant reports and
that "there has been no communication" with the KMT on
the subject. Asked if it would harm United States-
Taiwan relations if Ma Ying-jeou were elected
"President" in 2008 and proceeded to promote
unification, the spokesman said that the political
foundation of cross-Strait relations, which is the
idea that Taiwan is an inseparable part of China's
territory, can not easily be destroyed.

Strengthening Cross-Strait Transportation Ties
-------------- -


5. Before taking questions, Transportation Ministry
Water Transportation Department Director General Song
Dexing provided details about five recently announced
policy measures to promote cross-Strait direct
shipping by sea. The measures include encouraging
Taiwan enterprises to directly invest in Mainland
ports and highway construction, further opening the
Mainland's transportation industry to Taiwan
enterprises, exempting the "mini three links" from
sales and income taxes, providing discounted training
and certification for Taiwanese taxes, providing
discounted training and certification for Taiwanese
crewmen and divers and supplying Taiwan with search
and rescue assistance.


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6. Taiwan has not given an official response, but
China hopes Taiwan will take reciprocal measures, DG
Song said, responding to questions about the
announcement. He clarified that formal channels
already exist for many of these measures and more
details can be found on the Transportation Department
website, including instructions for Taiwan enterprises
interested in investing in the Mainland.

No News on Possible Wang Jin-pyng Visit
--------------


7. Asked for information on the possible visit of
Legislative Yuan President Wang Jin-pyng to the
Mainland, the spokesman said the TAO has taken note of
relevant reports. Li reiterated the Mainland welcomes
political parities, organizations or representatives
who recognize the "1992 consensus" to visit the
Mainland, at the appropriate time and under the
appropriate titles, for the development of cross-
Strait relations.

Agricultural Imports Brisk
--------------


8. Taiwan fruit imports have increased in variety,
volume and value since they began in 2005, Li said
when asked about the current situation of Taiwan's
agricultural product sales to the Mainland.
Authorities have taken measures to facilitate the
import of these products, initiate emergency
procurement and investigate fake products, he added.

Three Models of Transport Not Adequate
--------------


9. The TAO hopes to break through the current three-
model "typical approach" to promote comprehensive,
two-way direct shipping which will better meet the
needs and economic interests of both Taiwan and
Mainland China, Song said when asked about figures
recently released by the Taiwan Transportation
Authority. The three models are "four direct links,"
"cross-Strait third location" and "mini three links,"
he added, providing transportation figures for each.
He charged that the Taiwan authorities' restrictive
policies are hindering progress on building greater
links.
PICCUTA