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Tien lobbies EU ministers

After returning yesterday from a confidential trip to Europe, Minister of Foreign Affairs Tien Hung-mao (田弘茂) said he had lobbied the EU to side with the US and turn down China's proposal to label Taiwan a "customs territory of China" when it joins the WTO.

"I've had some direct opportunities to express Taiwan's stance to some EU officials with the hope they will side with the US and support the accession of China and Taiwan into the WTO," Tien said.

He made the statement at a press conference held yesterday morning to explain his 12-day trip to Taiwan's non-diplomatic allies in Western Europe, which included France, Belgium and Italy.

It was the first time a foreign minister of Taiwan had visited these countries, though predecessors did make transit stops in these states, Tien said.

In China's accession paper to the WTO, Beijing proposed that Taiwan enter as a "customs territory of China."

But US President Bill Clinton said in a written statement that his government would not accept China's attempts to play politics in the WTO by using language implying sovereignty over Taiwan.

The EU was undecided about accepting the "one China" principles in China's accession paper, Tien said.

At meetings with the European Commission, the executive body of the EU, and EU parliamentarians, Tien lobbied for the EU to side with the US over Taiwan's entry into the WTO.

Aside from WTO issues, Tien told EU officials and members of the European Parliament it was Taiwan's intention to set up representative offices in the EU on a bilateral basis.

"The concrete consensus reached is both sides should try to facilitate the realization of such a proposal after both China and Taiwan become WTO members," Tien said.

The European Parliament had passed two resolutions urging the EU executive body to set up a representative office in Taiwan and vice versa, but the European Commission had not done this yet, Tien said.

Tien also visited the Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, as well as the International Institute for Democracy.

Prior to the press conference, Tien briefed members of the Foreign Relations Committee in the Legislative Yuan on his European trip.

When asked to comment on Tien's secret tour, DPP Legislator Parris Chang (張旭成) said what really counted was the "accumulated effects" of these endeavors on the diplomatic front.

"Sometimes this kind of work [referring to Tien's trip] cannot get instant results, but Tien has to visit these heavyweights in Europe. It's the accumulated effects that deserve our further atten-tion," Chang said.

During a visit by Taiwanese lawmakers to the EU in May, the EU confirmed Taiwan and the EU would set up representative offices on a bilateral basis, after the accession of China and Taiwan into the WTO.

"Whether such a stance expressed by the EU is a delaying tactic or it is the EU's real intention [to deal with the issue] requires further observation," said Chang, who also chairs the foreign relations committee.

"We'll know the answer by the time China and Taiwan enters the WTO by the end of this year," Chang said.

Tien also apologized for making his trip confidential, but he said any advance warning might have enraged China, as Beijing had barred its allies from formal contact with Taipei.

Taiwan has just two diplomatic allies in Europe -- the Vatican and Macedonia -- while all the other European nations recognize China.
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