TNAG-2915-FCO40-4190-International-support-from-European-countries-regarding-the--1993 — Page 52

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From: C O Hum

Date: 31 March 1993

Cc:

Sir J Coles

Mixster

PS/Mr Good ad

Mr Davies, FED

Mr Ricketts, HKD

Any 3213.

EPC ASIA WORKING GROUP: EC/CHINA RELATIONS

A

PROBLEM

1.

What do we want to achieve in the EPC Asia Working Group's current work on EC/China relations?

RECOMMENDATION

2.

I recommend that we proceed in accordance with para 5 below, and comment on the Presidency's draft paper in the terms of the attached draft COREU telegram.

BACKGROUND AND ARGUMENT

3.

For some time the EPC Asia Working Group has been carrying out a rather desultory exercise on the future of EC/China relations. It is generally agreed that these lack substance, and that there should be a broader dialogue more in keeping with the EC's aspirations to a higher collective political profile and with China's growing political weight. There is a specific problem in that the last two of the EC measures imposed after the Tiananmen events of 1989 (a ban on visits to China by Community Heads of State and on defence contacts) remain in force.

4.

The Danish Presidency has prepared an issues paper on which comments have been sought by 5 April. A draft policy paper will then be prepared for discussion in the Asia Working Group on 28 April.

5.

I do not recommend that the Minister need get involved in the detail. But he will wish to be aware of the general approach which we propose to adopt. can be summarised as follows:

This

we should give no encouragement to those partners in the Twelve (probably still a minority) pressing for the immediate lifting of the remaining Madrid measures. Nor should we

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