DATE=9/7/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CHINA-WTO-TAIWAN (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-266217
BYLINE=LETA HONG FINCHER
DATELINE=BEIJING
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: China is refusing to back off from its
proposal that the World Trade Organization grant
membership to Taiwan only if it is recognized as
a part of China. As Beijing Correspondent Leta
Hong Fincher reports, China's position may
complicate final negotiations for the entry of
both China and Taiwan to the global trade body.
TEXT: Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Sun Yuxi
insists that Taiwan should only be admitted to
the World Trade Organization, or W-T-O, if it is
classified as a separate customs territory of
China.
///SUN ACT IN CHINESE, THEN FADE///
At a regular press briefing Thursday, Mr. Sun
said China is opposed to Taiwan using the W-T-O
to promote the idea of two Chinas.
China considers Taiwan a renegade province and
objects to Taiwanese membership in international
organizations. However sovereignty is not a
condition for W-T-O membership and therefore
Taiwan's politic status is not a crucial issue -
except to China.
Wednesday, President Clinton rejected Beijing's
demand to label Taiwan a customs territory of
China, calling it inappropriate.
This issue comes at crucial time as the U-S
Senate is currently debating a bill to grant
China permanent normal trade relations - paving
the way for China's entry to the W-T-O. Some U-S
senators say China is using the W-T-O to assert
its sovereignty over Taiwan, and accuse China of
blocking Taiwan's entry to the global trade body.
///SUN ACT IN CHINESE, THEN FADE///
But Foreign Ministry Spokesman Sun says Beijing
supports Taiwan's W-T-O membership. But he says
unless Taiwan's status is properly defined, it
suggests that there are two Chinas. He says China
hopes the United States will continue to uphold
the principle that there is only one China and
Taiwan is a part of it.
The dispute over the terms for Taiwan's entry to
the W-T-O dates back years, when the accession
process for China and Taiwan began. In order to
avoid political disagreements, all parties agreed
that China, Taiwan and Hong Kong enter as customs
territories.
But now that Beijing is demanding Taiwan be
defined as a customs territory of China, it is
not clear how the final negotiations for China's
W-T-O admission will be affected, or whether
Taiwan's entry will be delayed until a compromise
is reached. Under the current world trade body
deal, China would enter the W-T-O just before
Taiwan. (signed)
NEB/HK/LHF/JO
07-Sep-2000 06:47 AM LOC (07-Sep-2000 1047 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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