Ministry says China's efforts to block Taiwan increasing
from CHINA NEWS, 19 August 1999The Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) confirmed yesterday that China has intensified its efforts to block Taiwan's entry to the World Trade Organization (WTO) following the recent controversy over the "special state-to-state relationship" theory.
"If the WTO working party screening our membership application fails to hold a meeting before October to review several important documents detailing terms for Taiwan's accession, our hope to become a full WTO member by the end of this year will evaporate," Vice Economics Minister Lin Yi-fu said.
An MOEA internal document also divulged that communist China's strong lobbying efforts have prompted some members of the WTO working party in charge of Taiwan's application to come to an "understanding" that the WTO Secretariat should not hold the final screening meeting for Taiwan application until the working party responsible for China's membership bid finalizes examination of all China-seat-related documents.
Lin said it remains uncertain at the moment whether WTO authorities will call the Taiwan-related final screening meeting before October. "A decision can be made only after the WTO Secretariat consults with every member of the working party," he noted.
The WTO called an informal working party to screen the protocol on Taiwan's entry terms and other related documents late last month. During the meeting, Beijing instigated its allies, including Cuba, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, to speak against Taiwan's WTO entry ahead of China.
Lin said Taiwan won't be daunted by Beijing's boycott. "We have worked out a strategy to break Beijing's blockade to ensure our smooth WTO admission," the vice minister said. Lin, however, would not elaborate on the strategy.Copyright 1999 China News
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