Dáil Éireann - Volume 543 - 06 November, 2001

Written Answers. - Foreign Policy.

Mr. Allen Mr. Allen

188. Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on whether in negotiations between China and Taiwan, the threat of force is entirely unacceptable; his further views on whether both sides should be encouraged to negotiate their future without preconditions; and if the Government supports this approach. [26322/01]

Mr. Cowen Mr. Cowen

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Cowen): The Government would be opposed to the use of force in any effort to resolve the issue of Taiwan. In this regard, I have been encouraged by a recent major policy address by President Jiang Zemin, at the Commemoration of the 90th Anniversary of the Revolution of 1911 on 9 October 2001, in which he clearly committed China to pursuing the reintegration of Taiwan by peaceful means on the basis of the one-China principle.

Successive Irish Governments have accepted the one-China principle, as have the overwhelming majority of UN members and our EU partners. During the EU-China summit in September this year, China reiterated its principled position on the settlement of the Taiwan question in accordance with the basic principle of “peaceful reunification and one country, two systems”. I hope that the parties will be able to find a way to initiate dialogue at an early date.

Dáil Éireann 543 Written Answers. Foreign Policy.

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