RESTRICTED
011313
MDLOAN 5825
ADVOCATE OF REOPENING CONTACTS, HAS A NAIVE BELIEF THAT THE DELEGATION WILL BE ABLE TO MEET REPRESENTATIVES OF THE QUOTE OPPOSITION PRESS UNQUOTE. IT SEEMS ALSO THAT THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT'S RAPPORTEUR ON CHINA MAY HAVE BEEN REFUSED A VISA TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DELEGATION CON THE GROUNDS OF HIS OUTSPOKEN CRITICISM OF CHINA IN THE PAST).
5. WE HAVE ADVISED MR JACKSON AS FOLLOWS:
(A) WE FAVOUR A RESTORATION OF LINKS WITH CHINA BUT VISITORS SHOULD BEWARE OF SIMPLY BEING USED BY THE CHINESE FOR THEIR OWN PROPAGANDA: CONTACTS SHOULD BE DEVELOPED ON THE BASIS OF A CLEAR APPRECIATION OF EUROPEAN INTERESTS AND ON OUR OWN TERMS:
(B) IT FOLLOWS THAT IF THE CHINESE REFUSE A VISA TO A MEMBER OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT BECAUSE THEY DO NOT LIKE HIS VIEWS, OUR ADVICE WOULD BE THAT THE DELEGATION SHOULD NOT PROCEED:
(C) IF A VISIT DOES TAKE PLACE ON A SATISFACTORY BASIS, IT SHOULD SEEK A FULL AND FRANK EXCHANGE WITH ITS CHINESE HOSTS ON ALL ISSUES OF COMMON INTEREST AND NOT BE AFRAID TO MAKE ITS VIEWS KNOWN, INTER ALIA, ON HUMAN RIGHTS:
(D) MEETING QUOTE OPPOSITION JOURNALISTS UNQUOTE IS NOT A REALISTIC OPTION, BUT MEETINGS WITH RETURNED SCHOLARS (ON THE PATTERN ESTABLISHED FOR MR MAUDE AND THE SECRETARY OF STATE) WOULD BE A GOOD ALTERNATIVE: EC EMBASSIES COULD MAKE THE NECESSARY ARRANGEMENTS.
5. MR JACKSON, WHO HIMSELF FAVOURS THE EXPANSION OF CONTACTS, WAS GRATEFUL FOR THE ADVICE AND WILL PROBABLY KEEP IN TOUCH. IF YOU OR STRASBOURG HAVE ANY MORE INFORMATION ON THIS VISIT WE
WOULD WELCOME IT IN DUE COURSE.
HURD
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
65
LIMITED
FED
HKD
DISTRIBUTION
65
RAD
PS
PS/LORD CAITHNESS
PAGE
2
RESTRICTED