(16 Jan 1997) Mandarin/Nat
A Chinese government spokesman has lashed out at Ireland and Guatemala for political ties with Taiwan.
Newspapers in Hong Kong and Taiwan have reported that Taiwanese Vice President Lien Chan plans to make a private visit to Ireland this week.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Shen Guofang also said Guatemala's formal relations with Taiwan may hamper the peace process as Guatemala struggles to end its civil war.
Addressing a press conference in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Shen Guofang said Guatemala's relations with Taiwan were inconsistent with the principles of the U-N Charter.
China, one of five permanent Security Council members, on Friday vetoed a plan to send U-N observers to verify the December peace accord that ended Guatemala's 36- year civil war.
Shen said the Guatemalan government should make "certain arrangements" to abide by U-N principles, although he stopped short of saying Guatemala should cut ties to Taiwan.
SOUNDBITE: (Mandarin):
"The Guatemalan government should make proper arrangements to adhere to the spirit and principle of the United Nations. On the Guatemalan peace process, the Chinese government has maintained a supportive attitude towards it. We have supported the Guatemalan government's actions in the U-N in favor of the peace process. It is extremely regrettable that Guatemala has displayed an irresponsible attitude in regards to the Taiwan problem. We think they should take action to clear the obstacles on this issue."
SUPERCAPTION: Shen Guofang, Foreign Ministry Spokesman
Meanwhile newspapers in Taiwan and Hong Kong reported Thursday that Taiwanese Vice President Lien Chan will make a private visit to Ireland this week in defiance of Beijing's diplomatic embargo,
The Independence Morning Post quoted an Irish government spokeswoman as saying that Lien, who is also Taiwan's premier, would visit "within the week."
It quoted unnamed sources as saying Lien would meet with members of government and parliament.
SOUNDBITE: (Mandarin)
"Recently, Taiwan authorities have engaged in so-called 'transit diplomacy' and 'vacation diplomacy,' and have accepted honorific titles. They have used these opportunities to create 'two Chinas, one China, one Taiwan' internationally, and especially to visit various countries. Their objective is clear: to expand their
international position and influence. They are also continuing their
activities to establish 'two Chinas, one China, one Taiwan.' Therefore I think all the nations should be vigilant on this issue. They should not let the Taiwan problems interfere with our normal relations. I would also like to emphasize that most recently the United States violated Communique 817 by continuing to sell a large number of advanced weapons to Taiwan. This is related to Taiwan's latest international efforts to create 'two Chinas, one China, one Taiwan.'"
SUPERCAPTION: Shen Guofang, Foreign Ministry Spokesman
The visit would be Lien's second unannounced stop on his way home from Nicaragua's presidential inauguration last Friday.
Lien met with Pope John Paul II on Tuesday during a stop in the Vatican City that wasn't included in his original itinerary.
Communist China and Taiwan have been rivals since a civil war in 1949.
Beijing, which regards Taiwan as a renegade province ineligible for sovereign recognition, strongly objects to any contacts between Taipei and its diplomatic allies.
Aside from the Vatican, most of Taiwan's 30 diplomatic partners are underdeveloped countries in Africa and Central America.
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