FEBRUARY 27 TAO PRESS BRIEFING: ESPIONAGE CHARGES;

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 000693 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL ETRD ECON KOLY CH TW SUBJECT: FEBRUARY 27 TAO PRESS BRIEFING: ESPIONAGE CHARGES; CROSS-STRAIT TOURISM; CENSORSHIP; "2005 CONSENSUS"; AGRICULTURAL, MEDICAL AND EDUCATIONAL COOPERATION Summary -------------- ¶1. Key points at the February 27 Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) press briefings were: -- Espionage charges involving a TAO official are being dealt with "according to the law." -- The spokesperson denied that China targets websites in Taiwan or elsewhere for blockage. -- Taiwan authorities' charges that the Mainland was setting political obstacles to Mainland tourism of Taiwan were a "distortion of the facts," with Chen Shui-bian and his "stubborn adherence to Taiwan independence" to blame for the delay in opening up Taiwan for Mainland tourism. -- The [Taiwan] Mainland Affairs Council's recent press release regarding the so-called "2005 Consensus" is a "complete fabrication." -- The spokesperson had no information about a possible merger between the Taiwan Affairs Office and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office. Espionage Charges against TAO Official -------------- ¶2. At the February 27 regular Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) press briefing, TAO spokesman Fan Liqing responded to a question regarding the recently reported arrest of a TAO official on espionage charges by saying that "the relevant bureaus will deal with the situation in accordance with the law." March 22 Taiwan Election -------------- ¶3. In response to a question about a "direct flight timetable" proposed during the recent presidential election debates in Taiwan, the spokesperson merely responded that China had "seen reports" of the proposal. Asked about the DPP's supposed recent "softening" toward the Mainland in the run-up to the March 22 election, Fan said Taiwan should "get rid of obstacles" between the two sides, adhere to the one-China principle and recognize the 1992 consensus. When a Xinhua reporter asked for comment about Taiwan authorities' charges that the Mainland was setting political obstacles to mainland tourism of Taiwan, Fan responded that the charges were a "distortion of the facts." Fan blamed Chen Shui-bian and his "stubborn adherence to Taiwan independence" for the delay in opening up Taiwan for Mainland tourism. Mainland Website Censorship -------------- ¶4. When asked whether China would unblock Taiwan media websites before the Olympics, Fan said that China does not target the websites of specific areas or "create special policies for individual websites." "2005 Consensus" -------------- ¶5. The spokesperson called the [Taiwan] Mainland Affairs Council's recent press release regarding the so-called "2005 Consensus" a "complete fabrication" and a "slander against the Mainland." (Note: The MAC press release reportedly stated that, according to what MAC calls the "2005 Consensus," both sides in 2005 had agreed to look past differences regarding the "one-China principle" and resume negotiations on tourism and charter flights. End note.) Fan also chastised Chen Shui-bian for ignoring the 1992 Consensus. Cross-Strait Agricultural Entrepreneurial Zones -------------- -- ¶6. Spokesperson Fan announced that Fujian, Guangdong, Hubei and Jiangsu would create their own agricultural zones for entrepreneurial farmers in order to increase cross-Strait agricultural cooperation and encourage investment from Taiwan. Physician Credentials for Taiwan Citizens -------------- ¶7. Deputy Director of the General Office of the Ministry of Health Mao Qunan announced a new program for Taiwan physicians to practice in the Mainland. Physicians must have more than five years of legal medical practice in Taiwan, hold a physician's license and currently be practicing in Taiwan. Mao welcomed Taiwan physicians to come to the Mainland and noted that the policy was the same for Hong Kong and Macao. BEIJING 00000693 002 OF 002 Schooling for Citizens of Taiwan in Mainland -------------- ¶8. Hong Kong, Macao Affairs Office Commissioner of Education Liu Jianfeng announced a number of adjustments to the policies governing citizens of Taiwan who attend school on the Mainland. Liu said that the policies are designed to ensure that children who are Taiwan citizens are not discriminated against in the Mainland school system. Agency Reorganization, Tzu Chi Foundation, Trade Policy -------------- -------------- ¶9. Fan said that she had no information about a possible merger between the Taiwan Affairs Office and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office. Fan also confirmed that the PRC has approved an application by Taiwan's Tzu Chi Foundation, a Buddhist-founded nonprofit, to operate in the Mainland. Finally, Deputy Director of the MOFCOM Electrical and Mechanical Technology Industries Zhou Ruojun discussed future trade policy adjustments aimed at promoting cross-Strait trade growth and ensuring sustainable use of resources.