TNAG-2291-FCO40-3300-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-Taiwan-1991 — Page 38

CODE 18-77

CONFIDENTIAL

Reference.

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Mr

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займос мосож миний 2. PW Hk | Taiwan. Ms Majur,

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TAIWAN: CALL ON FED BY COUNSELLOR LIN

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Counsellor Lin called at his own request on the He ad

of FED on 27 June to deliver a "briefing" on recent developments on Taiwan. Speaking from a prepared text, he drew attention to the Taiwan authorities' recent decision to bring to an end the "Period of Mobilisation, for the Suppression of Communist Rebellion" and their abolition of the "Temporary Provisions for the Period of Communist Rebellion". Noting that this had attracted worldwide interest he made the following points:

A

JIS

i) The PRC maintained a policy of seeking peace ful

reunification of the motherland. The PRC was

ii)

iii)

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now and had always been opposed to "two-Chinas" or "one-China, one-Taiwan"; the Taiwan independence' movement ran counter to this and the PRC would not sit idly by if Taiwan moved towards independence. The recent changes in Taiwan were the result of the PRC's correct policy towards Taiwan, ie that Taiwan should eventually be reunited with the motherland.

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The Taiwan authorities' decision was aimed at preparing the legal ground for constitutional reform in Taiwan province of China; the aim was to counter the opposition and maintain the KMT in power. The end of the period of mobilisation meant an end to the state of civil war between the KMT and the CCP. This was conducive to the development of relations; but the KMT still regarded CCP as a hostile force and had not reduced its own state of hostility towards the

The Taiwan authorities wanted to compel the PRC to renounce 'the use of force and to make concessions to Taiwan's "elastic diplomacy", thereby maintaining Taiwan's continued existence as de facto a separate legal entity. This would prolong a situation in which there was peace but no reunification.

The Taiwan authorities hoped to push forward their "substantive diplomacy" (ie diplomatic relations in all but name). Their aim was dual recognition in international fora: they would in the future ask more openly for "one country, two governments" or other variations.

CONFIDENTIAL