TNAG-1852-FCO40-2627-House-of-Commons-Select-Committee-on-Foreign-Affairs-enquiry-1989 — Page 37

of the People's Republic of China

application

for

submitted

the resumption of its status as

a

its

formal

contracting

We

party to GATT in July 1986, GATT has Been working on it and there

should be no interference with its work in this connection.

understand that the contracting parties all share the view that

China's resumption of its status as a contracting party to GATT

should be solved first.

In view of the above, only after China resumes its status as

contracting party to GATT,

and with the

approval Of the

Chinese Government, will it be then possible to consider the

a

Taiwan's on

question

application for accession to

separate customs territory of China.

GATT

as a

The British Government recognises the Government of the

People's Republic of China as the sole legal government of China,

and that Taiwan is part of Chinese territory. This constitutes the

basis for diplomatic relations between our two countries. We hope

that British Government will support the Chinese Government's

position as stated above and as an original contracting party

of GATT, will make positive efforts to persuade the parties to

GATT not to accept Taiwan Authorities' 50-called accession

application

without the permission of the Chinese

Government.

to GATT