TAIWAN ASSERTS IT HAS NO PLANS TO ENGAGE SUDAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L TAIPEI 004124

SIPDIS

STATE PASS AIT/WASHINGTON

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/07/2015
TAGS: PREL PGOV ASEC TW
SUBJECT: TAIWAN ASSERTS IT HAS NO PLANS TO ENGAGE SUDAN

REF: TAIPEI 04089

Classified By: AIT Director Doug Paal, Reason 1.4 (b/d)


1. (C) In light of the PRC's efforts to expand business ties
and promote energy deals in Sudan, AIT consulted Taiwan
National Security Council (NSC),Presidential Office,
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA),and Chinese Petroleum
Corporation (CPC) officials about Taipei's own policies and
activities in Sudan. Khartoum has diplomatic relations with
Beijing and does not have an official or unofficial presence
in Taipei. Taiwan MOFA African Affairs Deputy
Director-General Jacques Wu told AIT that Foreign Minister
Mark Chen visited Chad, which borders Sudan, in June to
discuss energy ties, but he insisted Chen did not visit Sudan
and that there are no Taiwan government plans to engage Sudan
diplomatically to counter Beijing's growing ties with
Khartoum.


2. (C) Taiwan NSC Senior Advisor Connie Yang and Presidential
Office Deputy Secretary-General James Huang explained to AIT
that Khartoum is too politically controversial, has a poor
human rights record, and is not the type of government the
Chen Shui-bian administration wants to engage in the
international community. Yang also noted that Taipei, as
part of its new foreign policy strategy, is seeking to reach
out to more "legitimate" governments and that the USG would
likely oppose any Taiwan involvement in Sudan.


3. (C) CPC Exploration and Production Division Chief Patrick
Yu acknowledged that the PRC is very active in Sudan, but
added that Khartoum is too politically unstable and risky for
CPC to partake in any petroleum ventures there. Yu did admit
that CPC officials were recently approached by overseas
Chinese businessmen based in Sudan, who claimed to have
contacts in the government and offered to broker favorable
petroleum deals for Taipei. However, Yu said that CPC turned
down their offer.


4. (C) Comment: While government officials deny that Taiwan
is active in Sudan, in the wake of Taipei's new policy to
counter the PRC's campaign to secure energy resources in
Africa and the Middle East (reftel),we cannot categorically
state that Taiwan will not seek to establish a discreet
relationship with Sudan to pursue economic cooperation. AIT
will continue to pursue this during our meetings with
government officials. End comment.
PAAL