TNAG-2904-FCO40-4178-International-Institute-of-Strategic-Studies-(IISS)-Conferen-1993 — Page 22

HICC 440/1CONFIDENTIAL RECEIVED INT

2 APR 1993

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

PA

2

Mr Bute

I've sent

an interio

on 29

report to Mr Ehrman.

From: R F Wye

1/3

PL prod Mr Wye to chese

Mr Ricketts HKD

Mr

Far East Section

Research & Analysis Dept OAB 2/125 210 6219/6216

Date: 18 March 1993

CC: Mr Eastwood

Mr Davies FED

Segal next week.

Ми безал

1/24/3

IISS CONFERENCE ON THE SECURITY DIMENSIONS OF CHINESE REGIONALISM

1.

Please refer to Mr Ehrman's teleletter of 16 March. Gerald Segal, the conference organiser, is out of the country until 29 March. His secretary is also on leave this week. So I have been unable to get any up to date information on the the question about Chinese attendance that Mr Ehrman asks. I would be happy to pursue this further when Dr Segal returns.

2.

The

I did however speak to Dr Hoare who has some knowledge of what is going on in this regard. To his knowledge no Chinese have yet responded to the invitation. This is not in itself surprising, as Chinese institutions tend to be notoriously slow responders. Chinese have not, to my knowledge, refused to attend other IISS events such as the conference in Korea last year. The Chinese embassy in London is aware of the event. Dr Hoare sat in on a meeting between Dr Segal and a member of the Defence Attache's office who rebuked Dr Segal for his published views on the possibility of a break up of China, but did not say anything about the conference other than to ask how things were developing.

3. You should know that the Director of Research and myself have also been invited to this conference. I attach the outline programme. We have not yet replied as it would, if we were to attend, form part of wider Asia Pacific trip the Director is contemplating. We would of course have consulted you and FED before formally accepting the invitation. We would not wish to add any fuel to whatever fires might be burning at the time.

•

4. I cannot see our problems with the Chinese being sorted out by late June. Nor do I know at what level Chinese displeasure with us will be running at that time. So far, they have not reacted against the conference although they are well aware in differing parts of the machine that it is happening. It is something that they could well decide to take objection to any time.

RF Wye

CONFIDENTIAL