SEPTEMBER 26 TAO PRESS BRIEFING: TAIWAN'S UN

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 006321 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL MARR ETRD ECON KOLY CH TW SUBJECT: SEPTEMBER 26 TAO PRESS BRIEFING: TAIWAN'S UN REFERENDUM, MATSU MISSILE SQUADRON, 17TH PARTY CONGRESS, OLYMPIC TORCH, DPP CONGRESS Summary -------------- ¶1. Key points at the September 26 Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) press briefing were: -- The TAO expressed appreciation for U.S. opposition to Taiwan's referendum on UN membership and its efforts to enter the UN under the name "Taiwan." -- Taiwan will "get burned if it plays with fire," said the TAO spokesman when asked about reports of Taiwan military plans to establish a missile squadron at Matsu and secretly manufacture surface-to-surface missiles. -- The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) will determine the guiding ideology, general requirements and major tasks for Taiwan work in the future at the 17th Party Congress. -- The International Olympic Committee (IOC) decided that a torch route through Taiwan cannot be realized. End Summary. "Appreciation" for U.S. Opposition to UN Referendum -------------- -------------- ¶2. At the September 26 regular Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) press briefing, spokesman Li Weiyi expressed deep appreciation for U.S. opposition, which Washington has stated "many times," to Taiwan's attempts to "breach" the cross-Strait status quo, enter the UN under the name "Taiwan" and holding a referendum on UN membership. In response to a question regarding a leader "friendly" to Taiwan supposedly referring to the "Republic of Taiwan" as an independent country at the UN, Li said China "opposes and condemns" such language, which violates the international community's "one China" policy, the UN Charter and UNGA Resolution 2578. Taiwan Missile Squadron in Matsu -------------- ¶3. "Don't play with fire, because if you play with fire you will get burned," said Li when asked about reports of Taiwan military plans to establish a missile squadron on Matsu and secretly manufacture surface-to-surface missiles. SIPDIS 17th Party Congress to Guide Taiwan Work -------------- ¶4. Asked if policy toward Taiwan would change at next month's 17th Party Congress, the spokesman said the CCP will address the Taiwan situation and developing trends of Taiwan in recent years to determine the guiding ideology, general requirements and major tasks for Taiwan work in the future. He added that guiding and promoting Taiwan work and advancing the development of cross-Strait relations and the peaceful reunification process are of "grand significance." Olympic Torch Will Not Pass Through Taiwan -------------- ¶5. Li stated that despite the "sincerity" and "patience" of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG) and its hope that the Olympic torch would pass through to Taiwan, the Taiwan side again "unilaterally" halted discussions in September. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has thus decided that a torch route through Taiwan cannot be realized, Li said. September 30 DPP "National Congress" -------------- ¶6. Li said the TAO has condemned the "so-called normal nation resolution," when asked about the possibility that the resolution would be passed at the Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) September 30 "National Congress." Asked about a call for the referendum on UN membership to substitute for Yu Shyi-kun's call to use "Taiwan as the national title," the spokesman stated TAO's firm opposition to any "independence" and "splittist" activities. Cross-Strait Tourism -------------- ¶7. The spokesman said that allowing Fujian residents to travel to Penghu and Kinmen from Xiamen on October 2 is "great news," adding that it serves to actively promote Mainland tourism to Taiwan. Li stated that the Mainland has long promoted cross-Strait tourism and charter flights and has for many years called and hoped for the removal of "political interference" and the realization of these goals BEIJING 00006321 002 OF 002 as soon as possible, when asked about DPP presidential hopeful Frank Hsieh's promotion of cross-Strait tourism, charter flights and investment in an interview with the Straits Times. Randt