TNAG-1464-FCO40-1991-Visits-by-Chinese-officials-to-the-UK--including-visit-by-Hu-1986 — Page 79

CONFIDENTIAL

Taiwan also remains a major Chinese preoccupation.

Under the

"one country two systems" formula, the Chinese have offered even greater autonomy than for Hong Kong. In a new departure, and a sign of Hu Yaobang's close personal interest, he recently told a US academic that the Taiwanese government was a legitimate government. The Taiwanese have consistently maintained that China's offers are

However, insincere and until recently refused all official contact. following the defection to the mainland of a Taiwanese pilot, the Taiwanese airline agreed to negotiate in Hong Kong the return of the aircraft and crew. This has now taken place, also in Hong Kong.