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Visitors during the month included the German Minister of Posts and Telecommunications, who came to Taiwan following a visit to China; the Swedish Minister of Transport and Communications; and the Ukraine Minister of Health. The former two were attracted largely by prospects of participation in Taiwan's economic development programme. The former President of France, Giscard D'Estaing paid a private visit at the invitation of the Asia Foundation to attend an international conference on the Asian regional economy. He was received by Premier Hau and by President Lee. The Chinese continued to react on a rather heavyhanded fashion to Taiwan's diplomatic inroads. The Estonian Premier and the President of Kyrgyzstan, who visited China during May, were required to reiterate their formal pledges not to establish any form of official relations with Taiwan. The President of Bolivia was also reported to have reiterated to Chinese leaders his government's recognition of the PRC as the sole legitimate government of China and that Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory. The Bolivian Vice President had visited Taiwan the previous month. The President of the Central African Republic, with which Taiwan does have full diplomatic relations, also paid a visit to Taiwan during the month.
8. On 14 May, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman voiced China's firm opposition to reports that France might be planning to sell mirage fighter aircraft to Taiwan. He said that China was "firmly opposed to arms sales to Taiwan by countries having diplomatic relations with China" and that if the sale went ahead "the Chinese side will surely make a strong reaction".
9.
Taiwan sent a Presidential envoy, Tsiang Yien-si to South Korea from 6-9 May. He was received by the Foreign Minister and the President who both stressed that the friendly relationship between Taipei and Seoul would not change because of Seoul's bid to develop relations with Peking. In a subsequent report Tsiang said that none of the Korean leaders he had met talked about Seoul's reported attempts to set up diplomatic ties with Peking. They had instead focused on how to improve relations with Taipei.
10. Taiwan has been concerned to defuse its escalating tension with the United States over copyright and trade sanctions. On 22 May the Legislative Yuan passed visions to Taiwan's copyright law which considerably strengthened the protection of intellectual property rights in an attempt to avert possible United States trade retaliations. The enormous deal between Taiwan Aerospace and McDonnell Douglas continues to run into difficulties. Taiwan Aerospace came up with a new proposal during the month to form a leasing corporation to acquire aircraft from McDonnell Douglas instead of directly buying a 40 per cent stake in the American company. Under the new proposal, the company would place a standing order for 20 of the MD-12 Jumbo Jets which are still under development. At the same time, Taiwan Aerospace would be contracted to manufacture wings and fuselages for the new MD-12.
Far Eastern Section
Research and Analysis Department
4 June 1992
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