TAIWAN RESPONSE TO U.S. INITIATIVE ON IRAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L AIT TAIPEI 001855 SIPDIS SIPDIS FOR NEA/IR E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/01/2016 TAGS: PREL PGOV IR TW SUBJECT: TAIWAN RESPONSE TO U.S. INITIATIVE ON IRAN REF: STATE 87682 Classified By: AIT Director Stephen M. Young. Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) AIT Director met with Taiwan National Security Secretary General Chiou I-jen June 1 in the absence of the SIPDIS Foreign Minister,as instructed reftel. The Director reviewed the background to the Secretary's announcement of the United States' new initiative on Iran and requested that Taiwan publicly express its support for this approach and for efforts to reinforce the message that there need to be benefits and penalities depending on the path Iran chooses. ¶2. (C) Chiou responded that Taiwan supports the U.S. approach to Iran and has been careful, in deference to U.S. concerns, not to take any steps to improve ties with Tehran, including opening a trade office. He said that he would speak to Vice Foreign Minister Michael Kau about our demarche and requested that AIT contact Kau as well. ¶3. (C) AIT Deputy Director subsequently spoke to Vice Minister Kau. Kau said that Taiwan was fully prepared to issue such a statement. They have fully supported the IAEA and U.S. policy toward Iran. He requested AIT provide MOFA the statements we have made on this initiative and promised MOFA would issue its own statement June 2. AIT provided MOFA the Secretary's May 31 statement and the May 31 Washington File article entitled "United States Offers to Join European-Iranian Nuclear Talks." YOUNG