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)
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Source: Voice of America
.