PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE DEFENDS CONSTITUTIONAL RHETORIC

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TAIPEI 003807

SIPDIS

STATE PASS AIT/W

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/10/2013
TAGS: PREL PGOV TW
SUBJECT: PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE DEFENDS CONSTITUTIONAL RHETORIC

REF: A. TAIPEI 3265


B. TAIPEI 3782

C. TAIPEI 3797

D. TAIPEI 3796

E. TAIPEI 2662

Classified By: AIT Deputy Director David J. Keegan, Reason: 1.4 (B/D)


1. (C) Summary: Presidential Office Deputy Secretary General
James Huang asked AIT to convey a request for USG
understanding over President Chen Shui-bian's recent
constitution-related campaign rhetoric. Huang acknowledged
that some of Chen's recent language had been "a little
strong," especially his reference to "putting an end to the
Chinese constitution." However, Huang asserted that Chen has
been careful to remain within the bounds of his May 20
inaugural policy line in substantive terms. Huang asserted
that Chen's approach on the constitution in the campaign has
been calibrated to marginalize calls by former President Lee
Teng-hui to completely replace the current constitution.
Huang said that the Chen administration will seek in the
coming days to lay out for AIT and Washington the
government's thinking on constitutional reform after December

11. Huang's comments to AIT came on the same day the
president publicly thanked the State Department Spokesman for
"welcoming" Chen's November 30 pledge not to go beyond past
commitments. End Summary.

Political Calculations
--------------


2. (C) Presidential Office Deputy Secretary General James
Huang asked AIT December 1 to convey to Washington the
president's sincerity in abiding by his May 20 inaugural
promises. Huang asserted that Chen has been trying to walk a
fine line on the constitution issue during the ongoing
presidential campaign. On the one hand, Huang claimed that
Chen is seeking to fend off attempts by Lee Teng-hui to
dominate the constitution debate (Comment: Which
coincidentally might also help Lee poach Democratic
Progressive Party (DPP) votes for his own Taiwan Solidary
Union (TSU) party. End Comment). At the same time, Huang
continued, Chen has been careful not to say anything that
would substantively alter the limits he imposed on the
constitutional revision process on May 20 and in subsequent
statements. Huang acknowledged that some of Chen's recent
language has been "a little strong," especially his reference
to "putting an end to the Chinese constitution." However, he
said that this sort of hyperbole is commonplace in Taiwan
election campaigns.


3. (C) Huang stated that Chen's October 10 reference to "the
Republic of China equals Taiwan" (Ref A) and more recent
comments about constitutional revision were attempts to
undercut Lee's campaign to "establish a new
constitution/rectify the name (of the country)" (zhixian
zhengming). Huang noted that during Chen's November 27
Taiwan Advocates speech, and in subsequent campaign
references to constitutional reform (Ref B),the president
had explicitly stated that constitutional reforms would be
conducted within the procedures established by the current
constitutional framework. Huang added that Chen's decision
to attend the November 27 Taiwan Advocates conference was
intended to ensure that Lee's constitutional plan did not
dominate the weekend headlines.

Taipei Surprised?
--------------


4. (C) Huang claimed that prior to the State Department
Spokesman's November 29 comments (Ref C),the Chen
administration was not aware that the USG was concerned over
recent rhetoric. He added that Taipei assumed that
Washington was less concerned about campaign language than
about formal policy statements. In light of the most recent
episode, Huang said that there is an internal review underway
over how to enhance communications with the U.S.-side over
Taipei's intentions on the constitution, both before and
after the December 11 election. Huang said that he would
likely contact AIT in the next 24-48 hours to convey a more
formal message for Washington. Huang added that, in his
view, dialogue over the constitution and other sensitive
issues should be conducted on a regular basis via existing
AIT/TECRO channels rather than one-off special missions. In
this context, Huang said the delegation going to the U.S.
after the election (whose members include Presidential
Advisor Tsai Ing-wen, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)
Deputy Secretary General Y.Y. Lee, and Deputy Minister of
Defense Michael Tsai) would not be authorized to convey any
policy message to the USG. Huang described the group as
purely "academic" in nature.


5. (C) AIT responded that while we would welcome enhanced
communications, the track record of the past several months
has been decidedly mixed. AIT expressed appreciation for the
government's willingness to consult in advance about major
policy speeches, but pointed out that clarifications over
Chen's October 10 "ROC equals Taiwan" and more recent
constitutional formulations came only after the fact. This,
it was noted, raised questions about whether AIT was being
consulted or simply "spun." In addition, AIT was not
informed in advance of the president's intention to speak on
constitutional revision at Lee Teng-hui's Taiwan Advocates
conference. (Note: This is true even though National
Security Advisor Chiou I-jen had made a point of reassuring
AIT two days earlier concerning Chen's planned campaign event
with Lee on December 4 (Ref ). End Note.) Huang said Taipei
would try to do a better job of keeping AIT abreast of the
president's plans. He also reiterated that the only venue
where Chen and Lee will appear together between now and
election day is at a December 4 evening rally in Kaohsiung
City. Huang emphasized that Chen would not take part in the
TSU's December 5 "name rectification" rally.

SIPDIS

CSB Reiterates No Changes, "Thanks" Boucher
--------------


6. (C) On the same day as Huang's remarks to AIT, President
Chen used an open press meeting with the Utah Governor
attended by the AIT Director to amplify his November 30
pledge to abide by past commitments regarding constitutional
reform (Ref C). Chen explained in detail the process for
constitutional revision under the procedures passed in August
by the Legislative Yuan (LY) (Ref E). Chen noted that a
referendum is stipulated under these provisions, but only
after "three out of four" members of the LY approve them.
(Note: Chen acknowledged that these new procedures have not
yet been approval by a yet-to-be-selected National Assembly.
End Note.). During his December 1 remarks, Chen also
expressed appreciation for State Department Spokesman
Boucher's reported reaction to the president's November 30
clarification. Chen told the press "I have learned that the
State Department's Spokesman welcomed my remarks, and I would
like to express sincere appreciation for that."

Comment: Damage Control Mode
--------------


7. (C) Chen and his aides were clearly spooked by the
Spokesman's warning and the widespread media coverage it
received in Taipei. Coming the same week that Standard and
Poor's cited cross-Strait tensions among its reasons for
downgrading Taiwan's risk rating, Chen is likely to chart a
more cautious rhetorical course in the coming days. The
president and his advisors are also likely to seek to enhance
consultations with AIT and Washington, if for no other reason
than to avoid any further public rebukes. However, we do not
accept their claims to be surprised over USG concerns over
Chen's recent "campaign rhetoric." AIT has repeatedly
emphasized in private to Chen administration officials from
the president on down that both Washington and Beijing would
pay particular attention to the language used during the
legislative campaign. With the president in full election
mode, it apparently required a public reminder and
accompanying political costs before the president and his
advisors chose to moderate his rhetoric.
PAAL