TAIWAN ASSERTS VATICAN SUBTLY SIGNALING BEIJING

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 TAIPEI 002750

SIPDIS

STATE PASS AIT/WASHINGTON

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/20/2015
TAGS: PREL PGOV ASEC TW
SUBJECT: TAIWAN ASSERTS VATICAN SUBTLY SIGNALING BEIJING


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


1. (C) Summary: Taiwan officials contend that the Holy See
and Pope Benedict XVI are subtly encouraging Beijing to
resume an official dialogue, which was suspended by the PRC
in 2000. While there has been no progress in the deadlock
over Beijing's refusal to allow the Vatican complete
jurisdiction over the Catholic Church in the PRC, Ministry of
Foreign Affairs (MOFA) officials say the Vatican's refusal to
allow President Chen Shui-bian to attend Pope Benedict XVI's
inauguration and the Pope's speech encouraging a more open
foreign policy were intended to placate Beijing.
Taipei-based Vatican officials maintain that Pope Benedict
XVI's approach towards Beijing is consistent with the Holy
See's long-standing policy to recognize Beijing and
characterize the widespread media speculation surrounding
Vatican-PRC ties as sensationalist. MOFA and Vatican
officials do agree, however, that a near-term breakthrough in
Holy See-Beijing relations is unlikely and that Taipei's
diplomatic ties with the Holy See will remain stable in the
near term. End summary.

Vatican Has Long Sought PRC Ties
--------------


2. (C) The Vatican has long sought to reestablish diplomatic
relations with the PRC since Beijing severed ties with the
Holy See in 1949. The Vatican's Charge d' Affairs in Taipei,
Monsignor Ambrose Madtha, told AIT that he is puzzled by the
media's speculation that the new Pope Benedict XVI, is
pursuing a new policy to recognize Beijing. Madtha noted
that it was the PRC that severed diplomatic ties with the
Vatican and it was Beijing that cut off dialogue with the
Holy See in 2000. Madtha remarked that the Holy See has
always wanted and needs diplomatic ties with Beijing for the
sake of the Church's estimated 10 million Catholics in the
PRC. While the Holy See appreciates Taiwan's human rights
record and its democratic government, Madtha explained, there
are only about 300,000 Catholics in Taiwan. He pointed out
that Pope John Paul II always wanted to open up diplomatic
ties with the PRC and had hoped to travel to Beijing to
achieve a breakthrough.


3. (C) Madtha dismissed the wave of media reports of
impending changes in PRC-Vatican relations and complained
about coverage of Hong Kong Bishop Zen's comments regarding
the Vatican's desire to recognize the PRC. Madtha asserted
that the press had misinterpreted Bishop Zen's comments and
that his views simply were a reiteration of long-standing
Vatican policies towards the PRC. Madtha also criticized the
media's reaction to Pope Benedict XVI's inaugural speech, in
which the Pope said that the Holy See is eager to recognize
nations that have not yet established ties with the Vatican.
Madtha argued that the media exaggerated the story and
insisted that the Pope's remarks merely reaffirmed the
Vatican's long-standing policy of maintaining diplomatic ties
with all nations around the world, including the PRC.
MOFA Sees Subtle Vatican Hints
--------------


4. (C) MOFA officials insist, however, that the Holy See and
Pope Benedict XVI are sending subtle signals to the PRC that
the time is right to renew talks over diplomatic recognition.
MOFA's Director General for European Affairs, Larry Wang,
told AIT that it is no secret that the Vatican wishes to
renew diplomatic ties with Beijing because of the large
number Catholics in the PRC. Wang noted that the Holy See
allowed President Chen to remain in the Vatican for only one
day to attend Pope John Paul II's funeral. In addition, Wang
said that the Holy See asked President Chen and other senior
Taiwan officials not to attend the inauguration of Pope
Benedict XVI "for the sake of future Vatican-Taiwan
relations." Wang insisted that these restrictions on Taiwan
were intended to send a message to Beijing. So, too, the
Vatican's Foreign Minister Archbishop Giovanni Lajolo's
statement on June 23 that there are no insurmountable
difficulties in reestablishing ties with the PRC, appears to
reinforce that message to Beijing.


5. (C) Wang added that while official Vatican policy toward
Beijing remains unchanged, Beijing likely views Pope Benedict
XVI as more moderate than Pope John Paul II. Wang pointed
out that Pope Benedict XVI is focused on fundamental Church
reform in contrast to Pope John Paul II's mission to combat
communism and encourage human rights around the world. Wang
also argued that Pope Benedict XVI's inaugural speech
signaled a new opening in the Holy See's foreign policy
strategy. As a result, Wang assessed that the Holy See's
steps could create a new PRC perception of the Holy See that
could lead to a renewed dialogue and possibly eventual
compromise on the critical issue of Vatican control of Church
affairs in the PRC. Wang noted that Taiwan's Legislative
Yuan in May recalled Taiwan's Ambassador to the Vatican back
to Taipei to report on the status of Taiwan's relationship
with the Vatican and to answer questions.


6. (C) The main roadblock to PRC-Vatican ties remains the
issue of the Holy See's authority over the Catholic Church in
the PRC and its jurisdiction over the Bishop appointment
process. The Holy See's Madtha explained that under Vatican
law, the Congregation for Bishops appoint all Bishops and the
Holy See has ultimate authority over Church affairs
worldwide. Madtha told AIT that Beijing claims this is
unacceptable interference in its internal affairs and has
refused to cede Church control or the authority to appoint
Bishops to the Holy See. Madtha opined that the PRC is
fearful the Vatican would have too much authority and
influence. He told AIT that the Holy See has tried to assure
Beijing without success that all candidates for Bishop
undergo a thorough selection and review process to ensure
they are qualified for the position and that the Church is
not a political entity.

But Vatican-PRC Deal Not Imminent
--------------


7. (C) MOFA's Wang told AIT that while he expects Beijing and
the Holy See to resume a dialogue in the near term, it will
take considerable time before they achieve an agreement to
establish diplomatic relations. He said that Taipei's
Ambassador to the Holy See recently met with the Vatican's
Foreign Minister Archbishop Lajolo and was told that
Taiwan-Vatican ties are stable. Wang noted that Taiwan had
just moved into a new building in Vatican City, signing a 12
year lease with the Holy See and hoped that this reflected
the stability of their ties. Wang acknowledged, however,
that the Holy See told Taiwan that it fully intends to switch
diplomatic ties when Beijing accepts Vatican authority, but
promised to keep Taiwan informed so that recognition of the
PRC will not, when the time comes, be a surprise.


8. (C) The Vatican's Madtha offered a similar assessment and
told AIT that he does not expect Beijing and the Vatican to
reach an agreement in the near term. No informal dialogue
exists at this time, he noted, since Beijing broke off
discussions in 2000 and as far as he knows, the PRC has not
taken any steps to resume the dialogue or compromise on its
positions regarding Vatican control of the Church. Even when
a dialogue is re-established, Madtha stated that it will
still take time to resolve the outstanding issues. While he
has no solid information on a time-line, he noted that some
China watchers have speculated that perhaps the PRC will make
a move in 2008 to accept some of the Vatican's conditions for
recognition.

Comment: Taiwan Has Few Options
--------------


9. (C) Despite the Vatican's praise of Taiwan's democracy and
its human rights record, it is only a matter of time before
the Holy See establishes diplomatic ties with the PRC. MOFA
is pessimistic about the long term prospects for
Taiwan-Vatican relations, particularly given the Holy See's
decision to block President Chen from attending the Pope
Benedict XVI's inauguration. Although Taiwan's relations
with the Holy See are largely symbolic, they have long been a
source of pride for Taiwan and is very important for the
government as it is Taipei's only diplomatic partner in
Europe. Although the question of when Beijing and the Holy
See will resume diplomatic ties remains uncertain, what is
certain is that Taiwan has been relegated to a spectator and
must stand idly by while the PRC and the Vatican determine
Taipei's diplomatic fate.
PAAL