BEIJING. Sept 8: China insisted yesterday Taiwan should Join the WTO as a part of Chinese territory, raising concerns that China’s entry lo the trade body could be stalled due to disagreements over Die matter, says AFP.

Foreign Minister spokesman Sun Yuxl said China has always supported Taiwan Joining the international trade body, but only as a part of Ch Ina.

'The Chinese side has a consistent and clear position, that is Taiwan can join the WTO (World Trade Organisation) as a separate custom territory of China," Sun said.

He claimed that a 1992 presidential statement of the General Agreement of Tariffs and Trade (GATT the predecessor to WTO) agreed Taiwan could Join as a separate Chinese territory.

"In 1992, the presidential statement of GATT has already stipulated (his and this should be observed by all sides," Sun said during a press briefing.

The issue threatens to complicate the final stages of China's 13-year bld to Join the WTO as US

President Bill Clinton on Wednesday said he objected to China claiming sovereignty over Taiwan in documents pertaining to its WTO membership. "We have advised the Chinese that such language is Inappropriate and irrelevant to the work of the working party and that we will not accept it," Clinton said in a letter to Arizona Senator Jon Kyi.

Joseph Cheng, a political analyst at Hong Kong's City University. said claiming Taiwan as a part of China in the WTO documents is an attempt by Beijing to gain an upperhand In its struggle to get Taiwan president Cnen Shui-bian to go along with Its position.

"It's an issue which Beijing can have an advantage because everybody wants China to Join WfO and after joining." Cheng said.

The Issue threatens to be an explosive one as Ore upcoming US presidential election approaches, but Beijing is willing to take the chance, Cheng said.

'In the eyes of the Chinese leaders, the one-China principle

is much more Important than the timing of entering WTO," Cheng said. "Beijing is willing to accept a bit of delay (in joining WTO)."

A trade official In Taiwan on Thursday disagreed with Sun's claims.

He told AFP that in the 1992 GATT statement, a majority of GATT members agreed Taiwan should be admitted Into the body after China as a separate customs territory" but not as a "separate customs territory of China.”

However, according to a sum-mary in the WTO website of how the 1992 GATT agreement was reached, all GATT members had acknowledged that there was only one China, although the agreement did not refer to Taiwan as a separate customs territory "of China."

1 think in 1992, the government in Taiwan still accepted the one-China principle, so that was not an issue." Cheng said.

Taiwanese president Chen has refused to accept the principle, under which Beijing claims Taiwan is a part of China, but has agreed to discuss it with Beijing.