INDEPENDENT NEWS

Cablegate: October 11 Tao Press Briefing: Cross-Strait

Published: Wed 11 Oct 2006 10:38 AM
VZCZCXRO5513
OO RUEHCN RUEHGH RUEHVC
DE RUEHBJ #1528/01 2841038
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 111038Z OCT 06
FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9393
INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 021528
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL CH TW
SUBJECT: OCTOBER 11 TAO PRESS BRIEFING: CROSS-STRAIT
AGRICULTURAL FORUM, NO CONFIRMATION OF HU JINTAO-LIEN CHAN
MEETING, CONSTITUTIONAL REFORMS, POSSIBLE MA YING-JEOU
VISIT
1. Key points made at the October 11 Taiwan Affairs
Office (TAO) press briefing were:
-- Following comments on the October 17-18 Cross-
Strait Agricultural Forum in Boao, Hainan Province,
the TAO spokesperson deflected a question about a
possible meeting between President Hu Jintao and
former KMT Chairman Lien Chan at the Cross-Strait
Agricultural Forum.
-- China firmly opposes proposed DPP "constitutional
reforms" relating to territory and sovereignty and
relations between Taiwan and the Mainland.
-- Chen Shui-bian has gone back on his word,
repeatedly renouncing his "four noes and one without"
promises.
-- Regarding a potential future visit by KMT Chairman
Ma Ying-jeou to the mainland, China will respect Ma's
views.
Unspecified Leaders to Attend Agriculture Forum
--------------------------------------------- --
2. Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) Director General for
Economics He Shizhong led off the October 11 TAO press
conference with a lengthy description of the
arrangements for the October Cross-Strait Agricultural
Forum to be held at Boao, Hainan Province and related
events in other cities. DG He reported that Central
Party and State Council leaders, leaders from Hainan
and Fujian Provinces and leaders of the KMT, PFP and
others would attend the forum. Spokesperson Li Weiyi
deflected reporter's questions on a possible meeting
between President Hu Jintao and former KMT Chairman
Lien Chan, at the forum, stating that he had nothing
to add to DG He's information.
Proposed "Constitutional Reforms"
---------------------------------
3. China firmly opposes "constitutional reforms"
proposed by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)
involving territory, sovereignty and relations between
Taiwan and the mainland. In meetings last year with
mainland officials, James Soong, Chairman of the
People's First Party (PFP), said that Chen Shui-bian
had repeated to him on February 24 the "four noes and
one without" promise and his guarantee that
"constitutional reforms" would not include changes to
"territory," "sovereignty" or the Taiwan straits
status quo. China opposes and is highly concerned
about Chen Shui-bian's going back on his word,
breaking his promises, continuing with his "de jure
independence" plot and damaging the stability of
cross-Strait relations, said Li Weiyi.
Possibility of Ma Ying-Jeoh visiting the mainland
--------------------------------------------- ----
4. "As we have previously expressed, on the question
of when Ma Ying-jeou might visit the Mainland, we
fully respect his own views," said Li when asked if
the mainland might invite Ma Ying-Jeoh, current KMT
Chairman, to visit after December.
Campaign to Oust Chen Shui-bian
-------------------------------
5. Asked if anti-Chen protests could impact the
Cross-Strait Agricultural Forum and, if so, what
manner of response the mainland would take, Li said
only that China is paying attention to relevant
reports in the Taiwan media.
Cross-Strait Agricultural Forum and Exhibition
--------------------------------------------- -
6. Following the two-day Agricultural Forum in Boao,
Hainan Province on October 17-18, a cross-Strait
agricultural exhibition will be held in Xiamen City,
Fujian Province. Over 400 cross-Strait
representatives will attend, including more than 200
from Taiwan's KMT, PFP, and New Party. After the
exhibition, the groups from Taiwan will separately
visit Shandong, Guangdong and Guangxi provinces, as
well as the Cross-Strait Agricultural Cooperation
Experimental District in Fujian and the Taiwan Farmers
BEIJING 00021528 002 OF 002
Entrepreneurial Park.
7. The Cross-Strait Agricultural Forum is an
important result of the exchange and dialogue promoted
by the Chinese Communist Party and the KMT, Li stated.
The event has momentous significance in promoting
cross-Strait exchange and cooperation, achieving win-
win results and mutual prosperity. According to 2005
year-end statistics, over 5000 Taiwan Farmers'
Enterprises have invested in the mainland, totaling
US$4 billion.
SEDNEY
View as: DESKTOP | MOBILE © Scoop Media