CONFIDENTIAL
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- 3 NOV 1993
CONFIDENTIAL
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TO PRIORITY PEKING
TELNO 643
OF 201831Z OCTOBER 93
INDEA
INFO PRIORITY WASHINGTON,BONN, PARIS, TOKYO INFO PRIORITY UKREP JLG HONG KONG, HONG KONG INFO SAVING BTCO TAIPEI
167517
MDLOAN 3488
195 Tar
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HONG KONG PERSONAL FOR POLITICAL ADVISER
PART THREE OF THREE: INFORMAL TALKS ON CHINA
US/CHINA
17. This prompted Ikeda to speak about the importance of US/China relations. These were sweet and sour (as Lord put it). The Chinese had not escalated recent incidents. Jiang Zemin had decided to go to Seattle. Japan hoped for continued moderation and cooperation in the relationship.
TAIWAN
18. Blanchemaison described France's difficult dialogue with China after the Mirage contract. They had explained that they were not alone in selling equipment and technology to Taiwan, but French firms continued to suffer discrimination over large contracts. Their Ambassador had not been expelled but the Canton Consulate-General had been closed down. Otherwise, all countries found ways to do business with Taiwan. The UK and Japan had particular reasons for caution and had not for example sent a Cabinet Minister, but neither ruled out such a visit. Ikeda was however against a private visit to Japan by President LEE. US policy was being reviewed but was unlikely to change muoN.
19. Lord raised the possibility of a Taiwanese declaration of independence Che Later put the chances at 60-40 against). It would create an awkward domestic problem for all of us. But he was not sure whether we should take action to try to head it off.
GLOBAL ISSUES
20. It was agreed that the environment was a key issue. Japan held talks on it with China: the US was trying to start them: Europe should perhaps consider them. The US and Germany were
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