Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05SANTODOMINGO579
2005-02-07 21:28:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Santo Domingo
Cable title:  

PRC PRESSES DOMINICAN REPUBLIC TO RECOGNIZE BEIJING

Tags:  PREL ETRD EINV DR CH TW 
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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 SECTION 01 OF 02 SANTO DOMINGO 000579 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/CAR, WHA, AND EAP
NSC FOR SHANNON
USDOC FOR 4322/ITA/MAC/WH/CARIBBEAN BASIN DIVISION
USDOC FOR 3134/ITA/USFCS/RD/WH
USSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/04/2015
TAGS: PREL ETRD EINV DR CH TW
SUBJECT: PRC PRESSES DOMINICAN REPUBLIC TO RECOGNIZE BEIJING

REF: A. A. TAIPEI 315


B. B. 04 SANTO DOMINGO 6472

Classified By: DCM Lisa Kubiske for Reason 1.5 (b) and (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 SANTO DOMINGO 000579

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/CAR, WHA, AND EAP
NSC FOR SHANNON
USDOC FOR 4322/ITA/MAC/WH/CARIBBEAN BASIN DIVISION
USDOC FOR 3134/ITA/USFCS/RD/WH
USSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/04/2015
TAGS: PREL ETRD EINV DR CH TW
SUBJECT: PRC PRESSES DOMINICAN REPUBLIC TO RECOGNIZE BEIJING

REF: A. A. TAIPEI 315


B. B. 04 SANTO DOMINGO 6472

Classified By: DCM Lisa Kubiske for Reason 1.5 (b) and (d).


1. (C) SUMMARY. A Chinese Communist Party delegation met
with members of the ruling Dominican Liberation Party (PLD)
and other Dominican political parties from January 24-27,
seeking to strengthen ties to the Dominican Republic and
pressing for formal diplomatic recognition. The delegation
called on President Fernandez and representatives from the
three major political parties, explicitly tying trade to
diplomatic recognition of the PRC. These efforts come on the
heels of increased commercial and investment interest in the
Dominican Republic by the PRC. The Chinese charm campaign
has gained some ground here, although we do not foresee a
switch of diplomatic ties in the near term. END SUMMARY.


2. (U) Continuing the PRC's charm campaign in the Caribbean
(Ref A),a Chinese Communist Party delegation called on
members of the ruling Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) and
other Dominican political parties January 24-27, seeking to
strengthen ties to the Dominican Republic, one of a dwindling
number of Caribbean nations that maintain diplomatic links to
Taiwan. Led by Vice Minister of the International Liaison
Department Cai Wu and Sub Director for Latin American Affairs
Wang Yulin, the delegation came to the Dominican Republic
after visiting Haiti. It met leaders from all the major
political parties, pressing for formal diplomatic recognition
of the PRC and linking diplomatic recognition to increased
access to the PRC's vast markets.


3. (U) The ruling PLD had invited the Chinese Communist Party
to visit. PLD Secretary General Reynaldo Pared Perez heard
the PRC delegation urge the Dominican Republic to recognize
Beijing. He later commented to the press that China "could
become a great ally" and a model for development. On
Dominican relations with Taiwan, he said that the government

"has the legitimate right to have relations with whatever
political parties it deems convenient" and that the PLD would
continue to improve its relations with the Communist Party.
(Note: Pared Perez is involved in running the President's
party, but has no discernible role in foreign policy. End
note.)


4. (C) Senator Jose Tomas Perez (PLD) told poloff that the
Chinese explicitly linked future PRC investment and trade
with diplomatic recognition and argued that without formal
ties, traders and investors would "lack legal guarantees."
According to Perez, MFA adviser Ambassador Miguel Mejia
arranged the meetings in consultation with Pared Perez and
President Fernandez, circumventing normal PLD political
committee decision-making, Mejia, a long-established
Dominican leftist from the miniscule "United Left Movement"
known for his assertiveness, had arranged a November meeting
between an earlier PRC visitor and President Fernandez (Ref
B). He also served as a go-between with Venezuelan President
Chavez.


5. (SBU) President Fernandez received the delegation in the
presidential palace. After attending the meeting, Foreign
Minister Carlos Morales Troncoso commented to the press that
the Dominican Republic would need to consider its diplomatic
options and decide which stance "will best represent our
interests." Senator Perez, despite his criticism, foresaw
that Fernandez might eventually recognize Beijing.


6. (U) The Chinese called on the two main opposition parties,
the Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD) and the Social
Christian Reformist Party (PRSC). PRD Secretary General
Rafael Subervi Bonilla, former vice president Milagros Ortiz
Bosch, and others hosted the meeting at Subervi's home.
Subervi said later that he favored establishing diplomatic
and commercial ties with the PRC, calling it "a reality of
the world" that the Dominican Republic cannot isolate itself
from the PRC. Cai Wu in turn invited PRD officials and
legislators to visit the PRC. The Chinese also met PRSC
President Federico Antun Batlle and other PRSC leaders and
legislators.


7. (C) The PRC increased its commercial visibility in advance
of its latest political efforts. Dominican business
interests report that the PRC's resident commercial
representative has been instructed to increase the frequency
of his contacts with local firms to at least four times a
year. In addition, we understand Beijing has invited
Agriculture Secretary Amilcar Romero to visit the PRC in
March.


8. (U) According to the press, as a measure to counter the
PRC's Caribbean campaign, ROC Vice President Annette Lu
recently cautioned Dominican Ambassador in Taipei Victor
Manuel Sanchez Pena not to try to use the threat of changing
diplomatic ties to extract concessions. Lu reportedly
discussed development projects that she was proposing in
Latin America, including possible farm development in the
Dominican Republic.


9. (C) Several Embassy contacts have expressed reservations
about possible Chinese displacement of this country's
traditionally close ties with the United States. At the same
time, no influential Dominican politician has stood up
strongly for maintaining relations with Taiwan. Many
commentators have referred to the "dilemma" faced by the
government, and some have characterized closer relations with
Beijing as "inevitable."


10. (C) COMMENT. These meetings do not change our previous
assessment (Ref B) that recognition of Beijing is unlikely to
happen in the near term. That said, PRC representatives are
mounting a sustained push for recognition, via increased
political exchanges with the government and opposition and
offers of trade and investment. Reactions have been mixed,
but the campaign is already gaining some ground. It is
ironic that at the same time the December 31, 2004 end of
quotas under the Multi-fiber Accord gives China a possible
opening to take away a large chunk of Dominican exports to
the United States. END COMMENT.
HERTELL