INTERVIEW: DAVID BURROWS [ASIA-PACIFIC RESEARCHER] re: SA's suspension of diplomatic relations with Taiwan - possible reasons
Record ID:
893482
INTERVIEW: DAVID BURROWS [ASIA-PACIFIC RESEARCHER] re: SA's suspension of diplomatic relations with Taiwan - possible reasons
- Title: INTERVIEW: DAVID BURROWS [ASIA-PACIFIC RESEARCHER] re: SA's suspension of diplomatic relations with Taiwan - possible reasons
- Date: 2nd December 1996
- Summary: INTERVIEW: DAVID BURROWS [ASIA-PACIFIC RESEARCHER] re: SA's suspension of diplomatic relations with Taiwan - possible reasons
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- City: JOHANNESBURG
- Country: South Africa
- Reuters ID: 96DEC02R01
- Story Text:INTERVIEW: DAVID BURROWS [ASIA-PACIFIC RESEARCHER AT THE SOUTH AFRICAN INSTITUTE FOR INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS] AT WITS UNIVERSITY re: SA's suspension of diplomatic relations with Taiwan
00.26.19 EXTETIORS OF WITS BUILDING
00.26.27 UNIVERSITY FLAG
00.27.21 DAVID: Mr Chang's visit I don't think will have any impact on the eventual outcome...I think that the decision to recognize The Peoples Republic, is a final decision.it will just help to work out a way in which to make the trasition as smooth as possible.
00.27.51 ...political & economic implications had a major impact on the decision...TRADE WITH TAIWAN = R5,7 BILLION... TADE WITH COMBINATION OF HONG KONG & THE PEOPLES REPUBLIC = R6,2 BILLION & RATE OF INCREASE OF TRADE WITH MAINLAND CHINA IS INCREASING AT A MUCH QUICKER RATE THAN TRADE WITH TAIWAN
00.28.19 ...economically it's in SA's benefit to make the change. Politically as well - only 30 countries approximately recognize Taiwan...the Peoples Republic of China is a permanent member of the Security Council of the United Nations & a prominent member ofthe non-alliant movement & therefore it is in SA's political interest to recognize such a country because we need to deal with the Peoples republic & many multilateral institutions in which we are trying to increase our international coverage...
00.29.10 ...all of the other major powers in the world do recognize the Peoples Republic that does not mean that they necessarily accept the human rights abuses which are taking place in the Peoples Republic, yet they do have diplomatic relations...
00.29.27 SET-UP SHOTS
00.30.07 DURING STRUGGLE THE PEOPLES REPUBLIC WAS SUPPORTER OF PAC & NOT ANC
00.30.31 ...most observers of this problem realized that the decision had to take place between March 1996 & June 1997; March 1996 being the Tiawnese presidential elections - if SA cut its links just before those elections it might have detrimentally affected ???? re-elction chances & we did not want to be responsible for internal political problems in Taiwan.
00.30.57 End of June 1997 is when Hong Kong reverts back to mainland China; obviously SA has lots of business interests in Hong Kong & those need to be taken into account - so why the decision now? It's a very difficult time for the decision to be made - it's only 2 months after the Taiwanese vice premier visited SA and on that occassion President Mandela quite emphatically said that SA was not planning to cut ties with Taiwan, therefore there is the opinion that the decision taken now was a particularly bad time;
00.31.30 It really came across as a real slap in the face to the Taiwanese after only 2 months ago promising not to break ties. This makes one think - what reasons could there be?
00.31.38...the Brazilain President fernando Henrique Cardoso visited SA. Both SA & Brazil could possibly become members of an enlarged Security Council - Brazil representing South America SA representing Africa and that could have some influence.
00.32.00 We also recently had Warren Christopher [US Secretary of State] visiting SA & he also visited China recently - there could have been some behind-the-scenes-negotiations there; the re-election of Secretary General Boutros-Boutros Ghali - if his second term is vetoed by the USA, which looks quite likely, that would open the way for another African candidate
00.32.23 Two South Africans that could stand a chance are Richard Goldstone...Ginwala [speaker of Parliament]...
00.32.41 ...just as the USA has a right to veto Boutros Ghali's second term, China as a fellow permanent member of the Security Council could potentially veto any South African candidate for this role.
00.32.59 REAX FROM NP = TYPICAL POLITICAL GAME - PROBABLY SUPPORT THE CHANGE THEY JUST WON'T ADMIT THAT POLITICALLY - Copyright Holder: REUTERS