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3. NORTH-EAST ASIA
Present
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Sir J Coles
Mr Hum
Mr Masefield
Mr Morris, FED
Russian Delegation as before
TAIWAN
24. Mr Solovyev said Russian links with Taiwan were growing
and he expected things to improve further by the end of the
year. Air links might come in due course. Sir J Coles said
our air link with Taiwan had just started. We had kept the
Chinese in the picture without actually consulting them, but
considerable care had been taken. Likewise we were careful
over the level and frequency of ministerial private visits.
Some believed there was real pressures in Taiwan for a
declaration of independence, or for separate UN membership
which would amount to the same thing. We did not think that
was what the Taiwanese wanted. They had quasi-independence
as things stood. It was pointed out that the only countries
to have diplomatic links with both Taiwan and China were
Vanuatu and Latvia. The Latvians were now asking the
Russians how they might get on better with China!
Sir John Coles said we took care also over defence sales to
Taiwan. We did not go in for major sales like the US or
France.
CHINA AND HONG KONG
25. Sir John Coles explained our position on Hong Kong and
how China was perceived in the UK. We wanted good relations
with China for international, political and commercial reasons
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