CHEN SCORES SMALL VICTORY WITH FIJI VISIT

C O N F I D E N T I A L TAIPEI 002077

SIPDIS

STATE PASS AIT/WASHINGTON

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/06/2015
TAGS: PREL PGOV ASEC TW
SUBJECT: CHEN SCORES SMALL VICTORY WITH FIJI VISIT


Classified By: AIT Director Douglas H. Paal, Reason 1.4 (b/d)


1. (C) President Chen Shui-bian achieved a small symbolic
victory when he made an unannounced visit on May 4 to Fiji,
which officially recognizes the PRC. Following his scheduled
three stop South Pacific island tour to visit Taiwan
diplomatic partners Kiribati, the Marshal Islands, and
Tuvalu, President Chen flew to Fiji, bypassing his planned
transit stop in Guam. Rumors had been swirling about Fiji
before Chen's departure, but officials kept the trip under
close hold and only revealed details of the visit once Chen
was in route to Suva May 4. Taiwan officials told AIT they
kept details of the visit secret because of fears that
Beijing would try to pressure Suva not to allow Chen to
visit.


2. (C) Fiji officially recognizes Beijing and Chen's visit is
likely to upset the PRC. However, according to Ministry of
Foreign Affairs (MOFA) North American Affairs Director
General Victor Chin, Suva has maintained close unofficial
relations with Taipei for many years. Chin noted that during
the 1990s Fiji permitted several senior KMT government
officials, including then-Vice President Lien Chan and
then-Premier Vincent Siew, to visit Fiji. Suva's official
government policy has been to maintain good ties with both
Beijing and Taipei. According to MOFA spokesman Michel Lu,
President Chen did not visit Fiji to discuss the normalizing
of relations with Taiwan, but to transit the country and hold
discussions on subjects of mutual interest to both
governments. MOFA officials privately dismissed the
possibility that Suva would switch relations to Taipei.


3. (C) Comment. President Chen's trip to Fiji does represent
a small quasi-diplomatic victory and morale boost for his
administration, particularly in the wake of KMT Chairman Lien
Chan and PFP Chairman James Soong's trips to the PRC. Fiji
is not likely to suffer more than verbal protests from
Beijing because Chen's visit was relatively low key and Suva
did not discuss switching ties in favor of Taiwan. However,
the fact that Chen had to keep his visit secret until the
last minute underscores Taiwan's concern over advantages
Beijing has over Taipei in the international diplomatic chess
match currently being played in the South Pacific. End
comment.
PAAL