Cablegate: September 26 Tao Press Briefing: Taiwan's Un

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OO RUEHCN RUEHGH RUEHVC
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O 260843Z SEP 07
FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2221
INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1850

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 006321

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E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL MARR ETRD ECON KOLY CH TW
SUBJECT: SEPTEMBER 26 TAO PRESS BRIEFING: TAIWAN'S UN
REFERENDUM, MATSU MISSILE SQUADRON, 17TH PARTY CONGRESS,

OLYMPIC TORCH, DPP CONGRESS

Summary
-------

1. Key points at the September 26 Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO)
press briefing were:

-- The TAO expressed appreciation for U.S. opposition to
Taiwan's referendum on UN membership and its efforts to enter
the UN under the name "Taiwan."

-- Taiwan will "get burned if it plays with fire," said the
TAO spokesman when asked about reports of Taiwan military
plans to establish a missile squadron at Matsu and secretly
manufacture surface-to-surface missiles.

-- The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) will determine the
guiding ideology, general requirements and major tasks for
Taiwan work in the future at the 17th Party Congress.

-- The International Olympic Committee (IOC) decided that a
torch route through Taiwan cannot be realized. End Summary.

"Appreciation" for U.S. Opposition to UN Referendum
--------------------------------------------- ------

2. At the September 26 regular Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO)
press briefing, spokesman Li Weiyi expressed deep
appreciation for U.S. opposition, which Washington has stated
"many times," to Taiwan's attempts to "breach" the
cross-Strait status quo, enter the UN under the name "Taiwan"
and holding a referendum on UN membership. In response to a
question regarding a leader "friendly" to Taiwan supposedly
referring to the "Republic of Taiwan" as an independent
country at the UN, Li said China "opposes and condemns" such
language, which violates the international community's "one
China" policy, the UN Charter and UNGA Resolution 2578.

Taiwan Missile Squadron in Matsu
--------------------------------

3. "Don't play with fire, because if you play with fire you
will get burned," said Li when asked about reports of Taiwan
military plans to establish a missile squadron on Matsu and
secretly manufacture surface-to-surface missiles.

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17th Party Congress to Guide Taiwan Work
----------------------------------------

4. Asked if policy toward Taiwan would change at next month's
17th Party Congress, the spokesman said the CCP will address
the Taiwan situation and developing trends of Taiwan in
recent years to determine the guiding ideology, general
requirements and major tasks for Taiwan work in the future.
He added that guiding and promoting Taiwan work and advancing
the development of cross-Strait relations and the peaceful
reunification process are of "grand significance."

Olympic Torch Will Not Pass Through Taiwan
------------------------------------------

5. Li stated that despite the "sincerity" and "patience" of
the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX
Olympiad (BOCOG) and its hope that the Olympic torch would
pass through to Taiwan, the Taiwan side again "unilaterally"
halted discussions in September. The International Olympic
Committee (IOC) has thus decided that a torch route through
Taiwan cannot be realized, Li said.

September 30 DPP "National Congress"
------------------------------------

6. Li said the TAO has condemned the "so-called normal nation
resolution," when asked about the possibility that the
resolution would be passed at the Democratic Progressive
Party's (DPP) September 30 "National Congress." Asked about
a call for the referendum on UN membership to substitute for
Yu Shyi-kun's call to use "Taiwan as the national title," the
spokesman stated TAO's firm opposition to any "independence"
and "splittist" activities.

Cross-Strait Tourism
--------------------

7. The spokesman said that allowing Fujian residents to
travel to Penghu and Kinmen from Xiamen on October 2 is
"great news," adding that it serves to actively promote
Mainland tourism to Taiwan. Li stated that the Mainland has
long promoted cross-Strait tourism and charter flights and
has for many years called and hoped for the removal of
"political interference" and the realization of these goals

BEIJING 00006321 002 OF 002

as soon as possible, when asked about DPP presidential
hopeful Frank Hsieh's promotion of cross-Strait tourism,
charter flights and investment in an interview with the
Straits Times.
Randt

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