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31 AUG 1993
DFS OFFICE
INDEX
ISTRY
005301
MDLOAN 0405
YOUR TELNO 260: VISIT TO PORTUGAL AND SPAIN
BY CHINESE VICE PRESIDENT
·
1 Given the common approach to China on the part of EC member states which is gradually emerging from the EPC Asia Working Group, we would expect both the Portuguese and Spanish authorities to raise the question of human rights and Tibet during Rong Yiren's visit. However, in the past, the Spanish and to a lesser extent the Portuguese have shown a distinct reluctance to broach the issue, presumably for fear of jeopardising their bilateral commercial interests. helpful if you could take any suitable opportunity to ask the MFAs in Lisbon and Madrid whether they intend to raise the matter and express surprise if they do not.
It would be
2. TUR appears to contain a misapprehension about EC sanctions, which affect arms sales, defence contacts, and contacts at Heads of State Level. Rong Yiren, as Vice-President, is thus not formally affected (and his post is, in any case,
Reluctance on the largely ceremonial), nor is Premier Li Peng.
part of EC states to invite Li Peng stems from public and media perceptions that he was largely responsible for Tiananmen Square
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