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British voice concern over CAL purchase

Taiwan's representative to the UK, Tien Hung-mao (田弘茂), said Wednesday that the British government has expressed concern about China Airlines' possible switching of its aircraft-procurement order from Airbus Co to Boeing Co of the US.

"British officials indeed have exerted `moderate pressure' on Taiwan over the China Airlines' aircraft-procurement issue," Tien said during a dinner with Taiwanese reporters in London.

The UK has a 20 percent stake in Airbus -- a joint venture between France, Germany, Spain and the UK.

"After I told British officials that the issue was mainly a French one, they stopped pursuing it," Tien said, adding that Britons are usually considerate and know when to stop their questioning to avoid embarrassing their friends or guests.

Despite the absence of formal diplomatic ties, Tien said communications between Taiwan's representative office in London and the British government have been smooth.

Tien, a former minister of foreign affairs, said he has made extensive contacts in various social circles since assuming office three months ago. In addition to meeting with British government officials, Tien has also made courtesy calls on parliamentarians, leaders of major political parties, think-tank academics as well as editors-in-chief of major news organizations.

Tien said he has discovered through those meetings that some internationally renowned news media in the UK, such as The Economist, are very supportive of democratic Taiwan.

Under Tien's guidance, Taiwan's representative office helped several British research institutes and think tanks organize a series of seminars in June with Taiwanese academics and experts.

Tien said the representative office will organize a large symposium on Taiwan Strait issues with academics from the two countries after a summer vacation.
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