Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05TAIPEI2335
2005-05-27 10:45:00
CONFIDENTIAL
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Cable title:
TAIWAN: GETTING PAST THE ANTI-SECESSION LAW?
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available. 271045Z May 05
C O N F I D E N T I A L TAIPEI 002335
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/RSP/TC
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/27/2015
TAGS: PGOV PREL TW
SUBJECT: TAIWAN: GETTING PAST THE ANTI-SECESSION LAW?
Classified By: AIT Director Douglas Paal, reason 1.4 b/d
C O N F I D E N T I A L TAIPEI 002335
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/RSP/TC
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/27/2015
TAGS: PGOV PREL TW
SUBJECT: TAIWAN: GETTING PAST THE ANTI-SECESSION LAW?
Classified By: AIT Director Douglas Paal, reason 1.4 b/d
1. (C) Meeting with the AIT Director May 27, Executive Yuan
Secretary General Lee Ying-yuan said that the DPP leadership
SIPDIS
recognizes the current opportunity presented by the slight
softening of the Chinese position on cross-Strait contacts
and will move to take advantage of the chance to undertake
pragmatic steps to increase trade and tourism. Lee insisted
that President Chen had been planning to ratchet down his
anti-Chinese rhetoric and move to gradually normalize
cross-Strait flights after the December Legislative Yuan
elections, but that his hands had been tied when China
announced and passed the Anti-Secession Law (ASL). Chen's
plans were further delayed when Kuomintang (KMT) Chairman
Lien and People First Party (PFP) Chairman Soong traveled to
China, Lee said. But Lee insisted that the "China fever"
produced by these events have just about played out and that
the government would be willing and able to move after the
KMT leadership election.
2. (C) Lee suggested several areas where the government
could respond in ways that would normalize cross-Strait
contacts -- including reducing the number of prohibited
imports from China and considering how to allow Taiwan fruit
exports to the mainland. He noted that farmers tended to
strongly support the DPP and insisted that fruit exports
would happen, but clearly had reservations about reducing
Taiwan,s agricultural trade barriers to Chinese produce,
citing the need to protect Taiwan,s environment and health.
Lee agreed that Taiwan had thus far failed to take advantage
of opportunities to promote tourism and noted that newly
appointed DG of the Board of Tourism Hsu Wen-sheng had been
charged by Premier Hsieh to increase tourism revenues by
working with the county governments to promote local
attractions. However, Lee did not explicitly endorse
increasing the numbers of Chinese tourists.
PAAL
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/RSP/TC
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/27/2015
TAGS: PGOV PREL TW
SUBJECT: TAIWAN: GETTING PAST THE ANTI-SECESSION LAW?
Classified By: AIT Director Douglas Paal, reason 1.4 b/d
1. (C) Meeting with the AIT Director May 27, Executive Yuan
Secretary General Lee Ying-yuan said that the DPP leadership
SIPDIS
recognizes the current opportunity presented by the slight
softening of the Chinese position on cross-Strait contacts
and will move to take advantage of the chance to undertake
pragmatic steps to increase trade and tourism. Lee insisted
that President Chen had been planning to ratchet down his
anti-Chinese rhetoric and move to gradually normalize
cross-Strait flights after the December Legislative Yuan
elections, but that his hands had been tied when China
announced and passed the Anti-Secession Law (ASL). Chen's
plans were further delayed when Kuomintang (KMT) Chairman
Lien and People First Party (PFP) Chairman Soong traveled to
China, Lee said. But Lee insisted that the "China fever"
produced by these events have just about played out and that
the government would be willing and able to move after the
KMT leadership election.
2. (C) Lee suggested several areas where the government
could respond in ways that would normalize cross-Strait
contacts -- including reducing the number of prohibited
imports from China and considering how to allow Taiwan fruit
exports to the mainland. He noted that farmers tended to
strongly support the DPP and insisted that fruit exports
would happen, but clearly had reservations about reducing
Taiwan,s agricultural trade barriers to Chinese produce,
citing the need to protect Taiwan,s environment and health.
Lee agreed that Taiwan had thus far failed to take advantage
of opportunities to promote tourism and noted that newly
appointed DG of the Board of Tourism Hsu Wen-sheng had been
charged by Premier Hsieh to increase tourism revenues by
working with the county governments to promote local
attractions. However, Lee did not explicitly endorse
increasing the numbers of Chinese tourists.
PAAL