Posted on 10/18/2001 4:27:42 PM PDT by tallhappy
Friday, October 19, 2001
Anger as minister blames Taipei for row over envoy
VIVIEN PIK-KWAN CHAN in Shanghai
China's dispute with Taiwan over who should represent Taipei at the summit exploded into an open row at a press conference in Shanghai yesterday.
Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan told journalists at the end of the two-day ministerial meeting that Taipei should be blamed for the dispute, which left the island's representation at the Apec leaders' summit unresolved.
Mr Tang angrily reprimanded a Taiwanese reporter for using the term "communist China", a common term used by Taiwan, when asking a question.
Mr Tang said: "This is Shanghai, a big city on Chinese soil. How dare you call us communist China. Communist China has become history. Such a term no longer exists."
The row centres on Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian's decision to name retired vice-president Li Yuan-zu to represent him. Taiwan, which joined Apec as an "economy" but not as a country after China's objections, is not allowed to send a top political leader to the summit. Mr Li is scheduled to leave Taiwan today for the two-day leaders' summit starting tomorrow, but has yet to receive an invitation from China.
"Taiwan authorities are the ones to be blamed for the envoy row. Such disputes should not have occurred in the first place," Mr Tang said. He accused Taipei of conspiring to cast a shadow over China's hosting of the summit.
"I believe there's some delicate political plot behind [the row]," he said.
"We provide opportunities and facilities to all Apec economies without discrimination. And we welcome all member economies to participate in this meeting," he said.
Taiwan Economic Affairs Minister Lin Hsin-I, answering another question, said Mr Li was picked because he was the best candidate but he had been forced to postpone his departure.
On one occasion, as US Secretary of State Colin Powell and Russia's Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov looked on, Mr Tang - who was chairing the press conference - tried to block Mr Lin from commenting further.
"I don't think it is necessary. It is unnecessary to waste time on such a trivial subject," said Mr Tang while signalling to a press officer not to allow Mr Lin to comment. Past Apec forum hosts have been more flexible in accepting Taiwan's envoy.
Early yesterday in Taipei, Mr Chen called Beijing's actions a "total disregard of protocol".
Taiwan's Foreign Minister, Tien Hung-mao, last night hinted that the island might decline to take part in the summit and accused the mainland of "unreasonable treatment".
Taipei was led to believe the mainland would follow "past precedents" of Apec summits, but Beijing decided instead to dictate more stringent terms without consultation with Taiwan, Mr Tien said.
"It was regrettable that the mainland did not keep its promises," he said. "We would like to take this opportunity to protest.
"The Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) is determined to maintain its national sovereignty and dignity and this position shall not change merely because of mainland China's efforts to stifle us."
If Taiwan fails to send an envoy to Shanghai, its leader may be represented by Mr Lin, the most senior economic official at the Apec meeting.
The ChiCom foreign minister screaming "Communist China has become history".
Why don't they change their name from Chinese Communist Party.
They are whacked.
That says it all.
What's his point? That if they were communist there is no way on God's green Earth that they ever could have been prosperous enough to build a functioning city?
This is a great one. He's trying to shut up the Taiwan equivalent of Secretary of Commerce and keep him from answering questions to reporters -- all while Colin Powell and the Russian Secretary of State are right there watching.
These ChiComs are self destructing.
So when are those free elections?
OK, you stinking savage, how about that retro favorite, Red China?
You can like that one, or lump it you communist bastard.
I like it.
Of course, they deny that.
I'm waiting for the usual suspects to enter this thread.
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