[Reuters]

Published date: 29th Apr 1988

29 April 1988

Reuters News

English

(c) 1988 Reuters Limited

MANILA, April 29, Reuter – Taiwan delegates to the Asian Development Bank’s annual meeting continued to cover their badges saying “Taipei, China” on Friday, defying the Bank’s efforts to change the island’s name in deference to China. Such protests by the Taiwanese, who have also been wearing their country’s red and blue flag on their lapels, led Peking to walk out of an ADB reception on Wednesday and has been a source of friction here. The head of Taiwan’s delegation, Central Bank Governor Chang Chi-cheng, said in a statement: “I reiterate my protest against the re-designation of my country in the ADB as ‘Taipei, China’. Such arbitrary re-designation has never been accepted by my government. “While we continue to make constructive contributions to the purpose of the Bank, the participation of my delegation in the ADB activities does not imply in any way that we have accepted the blatantly unfair re-designation of my country,” he said. China on Thursday accused Taiwan of openly defying a two-year-old ADB decision recognising Peking as the legal representative of the mainland after Taiwan delegates wore flags on their lapels. Peking branded their move “an open provocative act”, prompting the ADB to tell Taiwan not to tamper with the badges. Peking was admitted as a member of the 47-member ADB two years ago. Unlike Wednesday, when the Chinese stormed out of the reception, the Peking delegates did not react angrily on Friday. But Qui Qing, deputy governor of China’s central bank, said in her speech: “Taiwan is an integral part of China.” She said the ADB had recognised Peking as “the sole representative of China” and Taiwan had been allowed to remain in the organisation under its new name.