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Mr Jacinty
M's Major
X
RAD REPORT
Summary
TAIWAN
Esp x
HKCO20/3
Pm122/2
JANUARY 1991
pur Hanging ret"s with Taiwan
Taiwan publicly supported the allied operation in the Gulf. Some aid given to Turkey, but Taiwan unwilling to offer support to allied forces. Taiwan denied trading with Iraq. (Paras 1-3)
Further successes in flexible diplomacy. Visit of French Minister to Taiwan. Several outward visits. (Paras 4-5)
Air services agreement intialled with Australia, and talks with New Zealand. More aggressive negotiating tactics from Taiwan. Diplomatic privileges won for the office in Saudi Arabia. (Para 6)
Commercial relations with China still expanding. over repatriation of illegal immigrants. (Para 8)
រ
Problems
US $300 billion infrastructural development plan announced. (Para 9)
Constitutional reform widely discussed. (Para 10)
Taiwan denies having chemical or nuclear weapons.
(Para 11)
The Gulf
1.
Taiwan prepared itself for the outbreak of hostilities in the Gulf by laying in 160 days supply of oil and drawing up various economic contingency plans, which have not so far had to be put into operation. All flights via the Gulf were suspended from 12 January and plans were made for the evacuation of Taiwanese in the area, though these too have put put on hold for the moment as the danger is not judged severe enough.
Following the start of the conflict, President Li Teng-hui publicly expressed support for the allied action saying: "We support this necessary action by the UN to curb invasion by force. We also hope that the war can end and global stability can resume soon". Taiwan's own armed forces were put on full alert, lest the Chinese use the opportunity to launch an attack. President Li commended his government on 23 January for the success of the precautionary measures adopted.
2. Taiwan announced that it had given US $2 million in cash and $3 million in in medical equipment to Turkey on 16 January (as part of the $30 million aid package to those countries worst affected by the crisis announced last year). A Taiwan radio broadcast of 29 January quoted the Foreign Minister as saying that Taiwan did not have plans to offer assistance to the US or its allies in the Gulf. It would give money and other help only if the people of Taiwan wanted it to do so, and so far they did not.
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