JUNE 13 TAO PRESS BRIEFING: UN MEMBERSHIP

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 003974 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL ETRD ECON CH TW SUBJECT: JUNE 13 TAO PRESS BRIEFING: UN MEMBERSHIP REFERENDUM, "SECOND REPUBLIC" IDEAS, CROSS-STRAIT CRIME COOPERATION, DIRECT LINKS, TAIWAN ENTERPRISES Summary -------------- ¶1. Key points at the June 13 Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) press briefing were: -- The spokesman began the briefing with a strong condemnation Chen Shui-bian's referendum on joining the UN under the name "Taiwan." -- Yang denied knowledge of a case of a Taiwan fugitive reportedly in Guangzhou and ignored a second question regarding another fugitive on the Mainland, a question which was omitted from the on-line transcript. -- Beijing agreed to an Olympic torch route that conformed strictly to the Olympic Charter and the rules of the International Olympic Committee. End summary. Condemnation of "Referendum" on UN Membership -------------- ¶2. At the opening of the June 13 regular TAO press briefing, spokesman Yang Yi expressed the Mainland's strong opposition to Chen Shui-bian's "referendum" on joining the UN under the name "Taiwan," calling the move a serious step toward "de jure independence," which seeks to deceive the Taiwan masses and obtain fraudulent votes in order to realize this attempt at separatism. Chen's aim is to provoke a cross-Strait conflict, which could endanger the peace and stability of the Asia-Pacific region. Yang expressed the TAO's grave concern and intention to never allow "Taiwan separatist" forces to split Taiwan from China under any name or by any means. ¶3. Yang also bashed the "Second Republic Constitution" and "one country on each side" proposals as part of Chen Shui-bian's "conspiracies" to separate Taiwan from China, when asked for comment on Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Chairman Chen Ming-tong's reported wish to seek the TAO's opinions on his draft "Second Republic Constitution". Asked for comment on today's media reports that Chen Ming-tong visited the Mainland in 2005 as a "scholar" to hold discussions with high-level government members, Yang said he did not know anything about the matter. Olympic Torch: "Third Party Location" Arrangement? -------------- -------------- ¶4. The spokesman had not heard of a so-called "Third Party Location" arrangement mentioned by a reporter as a consideration for the Olympic torch route, but emphasized that Beijing released a route in strict accordance with the Olympic Charter and the rules of the International Olympic Committee. Yang expressed the Mainland's hopes to exclude political interference in the matter and implement the consensus already reached by the two sides. Opportunity for Fresh Cross-Strait Consultations? -------------- -------------- ¶5. Yang reiterated that the Mainland welcomes any individual who recognizes the "1992 consensus" and the "one-China principle" to visit the Mainland, regardless of party or government affiliations or previous behavior, when asked about Mainland scholar Huang Jiashu's assertion that a new opportunity for cross-Strait negotiations could arise if the DPP recognized Taiwanese people were Chinese. Cross-Strait Fugitives -------------- ¶6. Yang said he knew nothing about the murder case of Taipei County Councilor Wu Shan-jeou, after a reporter asked about cross-Strait cooperation in arresting a suspect in Guangzhou. The spokesman completely ignored the second question---which was also omitted from the Chinese on-line transcript---on the case of a Taiwan fugitive living on the Mainland named Wang Yongqing, who the reporter claimed recently held a public book-signing event. The reporter also noted that TAO Director Chen Yunlin had written a prologue to Wang's book. Ma Ying-jeou Promotes Cross-Strait Transportation -------------- -------------- ¶7. The TAO hopes for direct cross-Strait links to be established as soon as possible, when asked about Taiwan media reports that Ma Ying-jeou will make the issue a priority if elected in 2008. TAO Encourages Taiwan Enterprises on the Mainland -------------- -------------- BEIJING 00003974 002 OF 002 ¶8. Asked about Taiwan media reports that the Mainland is requiring Taiwan subsidiary companies to sever ties with its parent companies in Taiwan, Yang stated that the Mainland promotes the expansion of financial channels for Taiwan enterprises and encourages them to enter the Mainland market under the appropriate conditions. Yang noted there are already seven Taiwan enterprises in the Mainland's "A stock market," and that there is no special policy toward those enterprises currently going through the approval process. RANDT