TAIWAN SUPPORTS INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIP ON AVIAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L TAIPEI 004060

SIPDIS

STATE PASS AIT/W

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/30/2015
TAGS: TBIO EAGR ECON PREL TW KSTH WHO
SUBJECT: TAIWAN SUPPORTS INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIP ON AVIAN
AND PANDEMIC INFLUENZA

REF: STATE 175585

Classified By: AIT DIRECTOR DOUGLAS PAAL, REASONS 1.4 (b and d)


1. (C) Summary: In a series of meetings on September 28-30,
AIT briefed senior Taiwan officials from the National
Security Council (NSC),Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA),
and Department of Health (DOH) on the U.S. initiative to
establish the International Partnership on Avian and Pandemic
Influenza (IPAPI) (Reftel). Acting Director explained to NSC
Secretary General Chiou I-jen that the need for PRC

SIPDIS
participation in the initiative means we will have to work
with Taiwan on the side, for example, through bilateral
cooperative programs. Chiou expressed appreciation for the
information and suggested that Taiwan might be able to make a
contribution through WHO technical meetings. End Summary.


NSC
---


2. (C) AIT Acting Director discussed the U.S. IPAPI
initiative with National Security Council (NSC) Secretary
General Chiou I-Jen on September 28. ADIR provided Chiou with
a copy of the core principles and explained that because of
the need to get China involved in the IPAPI initiative to
develop a common approach to AI, we would have to work with
Taiwan on the side. The U.S., ADIR assured Chiou, would keep
Taiwan informed of developments and discuss ways for Taiwan
to be actively involved, including through U.S.-Taiwan
bilateral cooperative projects. ADIR pointed out that Taiwan
would also be an active partner in APEC AI activities. Chiou
suggested that Taiwan might be able to make a contribution
through WHO technical meetings. Chiou also stressed that
President Chen Shui-bian takes AI very seriously and that the
relevant agencies are strengthening preparations to confront
an AI outbreak.

MOFA
--------------

3. (C) MOFA North American Affairs Deputy Director Kelly
Hsieh expressed hope that a way could be found to include
Taiwan in IPAPI activities, in response to a briefing by POL
Chief on September 29. Hsieh urged AIT to use the modus
vivendi worked out with the WHO via the International Health
Regulations (IHRs),which permit Taiwan participation in WHO
activities. Hsieh also encouraged the U.S. to consider
creating an East Asian regional group of nations willing to
work together (ROK, Japan, Philippines, Taiwan) to cooperate
and share information on AI.

DOH
---

4. (C) DOH Bureau of International Cooperation Director
General Peter Chang told Econ Chief on September 30 that the
Minister of Health has set up a high-level task force that
will oversee the AI effort. This office will be headed by
Dr. Li Jih-Heng, the former Director General of the National
Bureau of Controlled Drugs. The task force will have control
over all emergency medical offices in DOH. It also will
coordinate with the Council of Agriculture. The task force
has already started to issue a weekly newsletter for the
general public in Chinese and English on the status of AI.
The newsletter can be found on the DOH website by clicking on
"Taiwan Health News" at http://www.doh.gov.tw/EN/Webpage
Chang asked for some time to review the IPAPI core principles
before responding to the AIT briefing.


PAAL