date:2007-08-05T20:03:00
source:Embassy Wellington
origin:07WELLINGTON560
destination:VZCZCXYZ0000 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHWL #0560 2172003 ZNY CCCCC
ZZH O 052003Z AUG 07 FM AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC
IMMEDIATE 4527 INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 0339
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 4899 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON
PRIORITY 0165 RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA PRIORITY 0290 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY
PARIS PRIORITY 0299 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 0632 RUEHIN/AIT
TAIPEI PRIORITY 0076 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0088

C O N F I D E N T I A L WELLINGTON 000560

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR IO/UNP, EAP/CM, EAP/TC AND EAP/ANP

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/03/2017
TAGS: PREL, CH, TW, AS, NZ, UN
SUBJECT: NEW ZEALAND REACTION - CORRECTING UN REFERENCES TO
TAIWAN

REF: SECSTATE 106458

Classified By: Charge David J. Keegan for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

1. (C) Acting PolEcon Counselor Tom Walsh delivered demarche
points (reftel) to Jo McLeod, Policy Officer in the North
Asia Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade,
on August 2.

2. (C) The MFAT officials said that they have taken our
recommendation under advisement but that they could not
immediately commit to make representations to the UNSYG. MFAT
told Embassy that they are actively consulting with the NZ
mission to the UN on how best to handle this issue. They
indicated nonetheless that they completely understand and
share our objectives. MFAT has promised to provide a more
specific reply as soon as possible.

3. (SBU) Background on New Zealand's diplomatic relations
with PRC: The Joint Communique on the Establishment of
Diplomatic Relations between New Zealand and the People's
Republic of China (signed December 1972) sets out the
formula for mutual recognition of New Zealand and the PRC.
The relevant wording in the Joint CommuniquQ is as follows:
"The Chinese Government reaffirms that Taiwan is an
inalienable part of the territory of the People's Republic
of China and that Taiwan is a province of the People's
Republic of China." The New Zealand Government acknowledges
this position of the Chinese Government. The New Zealand
Government recognizes the Government of the People's
Republic of China as the sole legal government of China."
KEEGAN