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Taiwan was a province of China. Even Chiang Ching-kuo had not accepted Taiwanese independence. Vice Chairman Li said that if a move towards independence took place in Taiwan then China would have to use force to unite Taiwan with the mainland. He said that, the United States had asked China not to use force but China could not agree.
If after prolonged attempts to negotiate over many years the Taiwanese still did not agree to unite with the mainland then China would have to use force, in the last resort, to unite Taiwan with the mainland.
iflete
On Hong Kong, Vice Chairman Li said that China did not have much in mind yet. China would have to hold extensive. negotiations on the subject. This would be necessary because. there was significant investment in Hong Kong not just from Hong Kong businessmen themselves but also from other foreign investors. In any case China would ensure that such investments would be fully protected. Returning to the subject of Taiwan Vice Chairman Li said that some countries maintained non-official and trade relations with Taiwan, while recognising the People's Republic of China. The PRC did not oppose this but if it became any sort of official relationship involving one Taiwan and one China or two Chinas, etc. then China resolutely opposed it.
Of course
Vice Chairman Li said that the Chinese people had strong nationalistic feelings about Taiwan and Tibet. Tibet was not now a serious question although a few people internationally, tried to make trouble about the subject. He said that if any of the visiting delegation wished to speak about Taiwan or Tibet to people they meet during their visit to the provinces they would find a universal response and very strong. national feeling.
Senator Hamer said that looking to the future of Australia/China relations members of the delegation were anxious to discover whether the Chinese Government believed there were any impediments to be overcome. He observed that there was one difference between the two countries on foreign policy; namely the Kampuchea question. He said that the new Australian position on Kampuchea was supported by all political parties in Australia. Vice Chairman Li replied that there were no other problems or impediments in the relationship. He recalled that during his talks with Prime Minister Fraser that he believed that Chinese and Australian views regarding the Soviet Union were quite the Beme. He said that it was China's desire to see continuing growth in the bilateral relationship.
Mr Morrison noted that recent major Chinese foreign policy statements had centred on China's relationships with the two super powers; the United States and the Soviet Union. There had been articles connected with the Haig visit on Taiwan. Recently there had also been an important article regarding the Sino/Soviet border. Mr Morrison wished to know whether the timing of the publication of the Sino/Soviet article was deliberatly arranged to coincide with the Haig visit. He also wished to have Vice Chairman Li's comments on whether the content of the article indicated any change in China's policy. Vice Chairman Li feigning complete surprise, said that he had not read the article, although
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