They considered the sale an infringement of their
DSR 1C
sovereignty and a violation of the principles of the 1972
Sino-Dutch Joint Communiquè which led rainga Muir lil,i bunl
relations from Chargé d'Affairer bɔ Anbassador Levin,
The Chinese urged the Dutch teconsider and warned that if the
sale went ahead relations would have to be down-grade.
They made it clear that if this happened trade, whose
promotion had been an important objective of Van Agt's
visit, would also suffer. After a period of some
uncertainty in which the parliament wavered, the Dutch
decided not to go back on the original decision.
4. Diplomatic relations were reduced to Chargé d'Affaires
level and there was a modest subsequent reduction in Dutch
exports to China. However, relations appear to have suffered
less, in practice, than originally expected. It is probable
that the Chinese were using the Dutch to give a strong signal
to the US, warning against arms sales to Taiwan.
Indonesia-Benelux
5. Soon after the start of Britain's dispute with Inonesia
over textiles, the Benelux countries found that Indonoria
was exceeding the trigger level for certain textile
imports. Against the urging of the EC Commission which
expressed concern about the precedent being set, they wily
/conceded
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.