5. On Gatt, Pasquier said that the French were keen to try and delink China and Taiwan membership. This linkage had been at Chinese insistence and it was becoming unreasonable economically to wait for Chinese entry before Taiwan could sign up. We undertook to let them know the UK position on this question (grateful for advice from FED).
China/Russia
6.
Responding to a question Pasquier and Richier said their view was that current cooperation was working well and should be encouraged (with the obvious proviso that transfer of arms technolgoy be carefully watched). The French feel that the Russians are a viable means of maintaining useful contact with the Chinese.
23 March 1993
Novor
J Townson
I am continually struck by low closely the French follow Hong Kong affairs. Their Consul-General there is clearly very active and has equivalent rank to their Ambassador in Singapore. As a matter of interest, Pasquier remarked that Hong Kong had the biggest French community in Asia.
This reinforces the importance of HKD keeping us fully briefed so that we can maintain a serious dialogue.
Despite Pasquier's upbeat references to Japan, he made it clear that the French took a dim view of their Kouriles/Russian aid linkage and had told the Japanese as much. Helping Russia was part of being a serious world player and was too important to subject to this sort of treatment. He was dismissive (probably rightly) of my fanciful speculation that the Russians and Japanese might do a UNSC reform/Kouriles deal.
On Taiwan it was clear that the French were pretty smug. They are losing contracts but it was difficult to say that this was definitely for Taiwan/Mirage reasons. Pasquier thought that the Chinese might be beginning to feel genuinely concerned about their isolation and softening up a bit.
23 March 1993
M Runacres