Identifier | Created | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|
04TAIPEI3783 | 2004-11-29 23:48:00 | CONFIDENTIAL | American Institute Taiwan, Taipei |
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available. |
C O N F I D E N T I A L TAIPEI 003783 |
1. (C) Summary: AIT relayed ref A and ref B talking points, and ref C inquiry regarding possible export control talks on December 15-16, to Taiwan's Board of Foreign Trade (BOFT) and National Security Council (NSC) officials. Both BOFT and NSC indicated tentative acceptance of December 15-16 dates. Request Washington confirmation of proposed export control talk dates/topics/desired participants (para 7). BOFT identified items imported and exported by the Royal Richard Company (ref D) and provided a report on the types of machine tools exported by the Cheng Hwee Company (ref E). End Summary. 2. (C) On November 10 and 17 AIT delivered ref A and B demarches to NSC and BOFT officials. Taiwan has not yet responded to these demarches, but promised it will do so after it completes investigation of the information provided. Export Control Policy Talks on December 15-16, 2004 -------------------------- -------------------------- 3. (C) AIT also informally raised the idea of export control talks in Taipei on December 15-16 with NSC and BOFT. Both agencies responded positively but asked for agenda details and desired participants. BOFT Import/Export Administration Director Peter Ho suggested consulting individually with principals in Taiwan's key export control agencies on December 15, followed by an interagency meeting on December 16. NSC Senior Advisor Lin Chen-Wei also told AIT that December 15-16 was acceptable but noted a formal AIT proposal for talks would be needed to hold the dates open. BOFT Report on Royal Richard -------------------------- 4. (C) On November 18, BOFT detailed Royal Richard's imports and exports in 2004 (refs D and E): Royal Richard imported 4 kilograms of photographic papers and 8 kilograms of photographic films from South Korea in May 2004. The total value was USD180. Royal Richard exported 40 units of bug zapper lights in August 2004 to Ghana worth USD411. Taiwan regulations require ships to formally declare hazardous chemicals such as sodium cyanide that transit Taiwan ports even if the cargo does not pass through Customs inspection or officially enter Taiwan Customs' territory. Customs statistics show no transshipments through Taiwan in 2004 of any Royal Richard cargoes, and no transshipments of sodium cyanide to North Korea or China. Cheng Hwee Trading Company -------------------------- 5. (C) Also on November 18, BOFT relayed to AIT the Taiwan Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) investigation report on the 158 different items that the Cheng Hwee Trading Company had exported to North Korea over the past four years (ref E). The report found that none of the items were strategic high technology commodities (SHTC). BOFT added that even under Taiwan's new "catch-all" provisions, none of these items needed export licenses since there was no proof they would be used to produce military equipment. 6. (C) Comment: Taiwan continues to insist that it is not stopping machine tool shipments to North Korea. Taiwan's trade with North Korea involves only a few companies and a negligible percentage of its overall trade, yet authorities resist taking stronger measures to clamp down on machine tool exports. AIT believes that policy-level export control meetings are needed to drive home the message that potential damage to Taiwan's reputation far outweighs the benefits of trade with North Korea. End comment. 7. (C) Action Request: Request front channel confirmation of the proposal for export control talks on December 15-16, information on topics to be discussed, and desired agency or individual interlocutors. End action request. PAAL |