Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06AITTAIPEI648
2006-03-01 22:59:00
CONFIDENTIAL
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Cable title:
TAIWAN OFFICIALS WORRIED OVER VATICAN TIES
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHIN #0648 0602259 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 012259Z MAR 06 FM AIT TAIPEI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8805 INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 4777 RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 0087 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 7635 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 7493 RUEHGZ/AMCONSUL GUANGZHOU 9040 RUEHHK/AMCONSUL HONG KONG 5971 RUESLE/AMCONSUL SHANGHAI 8437 RUEHSH/AMCONSUL SHENYANG 5021 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC RHHJJAA/JICPAC HONOLULU HI RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
C O N F I D E N T I A L AIT TAIPEI 000648
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 3/1/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV ASEC XR TW
SUBJECT: TAIWAN OFFICIALS WORRIED OVER VATICAN TIES
REF: TAIPEI 2750
Classified By: AIT Acting Director David J. Keegan,
Reason 1.4 (b/d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L AIT TAIPEI 000648
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 3/1/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV ASEC XR TW
SUBJECT: TAIWAN OFFICIALS WORRIED OVER VATICAN TIES
REF: TAIPEI 2750
Classified By: AIT Acting Director David J. Keegan,
Reason 1.4 (b/d)
1. (C) Taiwan Foreign Ministry and Presidential Office
officials are increasingly concerned about the status of
Taipei's relationship with the Vatican. In an unusual move,
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) European Department
Director-General Larry Wang requested a 27 February meeting
with AIT to discuss Taiwan-Vatican ties and seek USG
assistance. Wang told AIT that MOFA and the Presidential
Office are closely monitoring Taipei's ties with the Vatican
and believe that the Holy See is slowly, but steadily moving
towards a dialogue with Beijing. Wang added that President
Chen Shui-bian is directly engaged on the issue and fears the
loss of the Vatican could trigger a domino effect with
Taipei's other diplomatic partners.
2. (C) MOFA maintained that Taipei's Embassy in Vatican City
is in constant contact with high-level Holy See officials and
was told the Vatican is actively seeking to resume a formal
dialogue with the PRC. Wang pointed out that the Holy See's
22 February appointment of Hong Kong Bishop Joseph Zen to
Cardinal is evidence of the Vatican's desire to make the PRC
a priority. While Wang admitted the PRC dislikes Bishop Zen,
Taiwan officials believe the Vatican hopes Zen will assist
the Holy See develop a strategy for establishing ties with
Beijing. Wang asked AIT if Washington knew what the Vatican
was planning and hoped the USG would assist Taiwan with its
efforts to stabilize Taipei's relationship with the Holy See.
3. (C) The Vatican assured Taipei it will not be abandoned
and will be kept fully informed as the Holy See moves closer
to Beijing. Wang explained that the Vatican believes Beijing
must meet certain conditions before a switch can occur
(reftel). He noted, however, that high-level Taiwan
officials -- including President Chen -- do not fully trust
the Vatican because of the Holy See's decision to block Chen
from attending the 2005 inauguration of the new Pope. Chen
and his advisors are concerned the Vatican will recognize the
PRC first and then try to work with Beijing to resolve their
differences concerning the representation of the PRC's 10
million Catholics.
4. (C) Comment: It is unusual for MOFA mid-level officials to
request a meeting with AIT over the status of Taipei's
relationship with the Vatican. In the past, AIT always had
to approach working level officials, who were surprised by
AIT's interest in Vatican-Taiwan relations. This more
proactive approach could be the influence of new Foreign
Minister James Huang, who is close to President Chen and
acutely aware of his foreign policy priorities/concerns.
Furthermore, Huang is pushing MOFA to be more proactive
diplomatically and promised to change the way MOFA conducts
foreign policy. Even so, it demonstrates that Taiwan is
worried about the course of Vatican diplomacy.
KEEGAN
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 3/1/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV ASEC XR TW
SUBJECT: TAIWAN OFFICIALS WORRIED OVER VATICAN TIES
REF: TAIPEI 2750
Classified By: AIT Acting Director David J. Keegan,
Reason 1.4 (b/d)
1. (C) Taiwan Foreign Ministry and Presidential Office
officials are increasingly concerned about the status of
Taipei's relationship with the Vatican. In an unusual move,
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) European Department
Director-General Larry Wang requested a 27 February meeting
with AIT to discuss Taiwan-Vatican ties and seek USG
assistance. Wang told AIT that MOFA and the Presidential
Office are closely monitoring Taipei's ties with the Vatican
and believe that the Holy See is slowly, but steadily moving
towards a dialogue with Beijing. Wang added that President
Chen Shui-bian is directly engaged on the issue and fears the
loss of the Vatican could trigger a domino effect with
Taipei's other diplomatic partners.
2. (C) MOFA maintained that Taipei's Embassy in Vatican City
is in constant contact with high-level Holy See officials and
was told the Vatican is actively seeking to resume a formal
dialogue with the PRC. Wang pointed out that the Holy See's
22 February appointment of Hong Kong Bishop Joseph Zen to
Cardinal is evidence of the Vatican's desire to make the PRC
a priority. While Wang admitted the PRC dislikes Bishop Zen,
Taiwan officials believe the Vatican hopes Zen will assist
the Holy See develop a strategy for establishing ties with
Beijing. Wang asked AIT if Washington knew what the Vatican
was planning and hoped the USG would assist Taiwan with its
efforts to stabilize Taipei's relationship with the Holy See.
3. (C) The Vatican assured Taipei it will not be abandoned
and will be kept fully informed as the Holy See moves closer
to Beijing. Wang explained that the Vatican believes Beijing
must meet certain conditions before a switch can occur
(reftel). He noted, however, that high-level Taiwan
officials -- including President Chen -- do not fully trust
the Vatican because of the Holy See's decision to block Chen
from attending the 2005 inauguration of the new Pope. Chen
and his advisors are concerned the Vatican will recognize the
PRC first and then try to work with Beijing to resolve their
differences concerning the representation of the PRC's 10
million Catholics.
4. (C) Comment: It is unusual for MOFA mid-level officials to
request a meeting with AIT over the status of Taipei's
relationship with the Vatican. In the past, AIT always had
to approach working level officials, who were surprised by
AIT's interest in Vatican-Taiwan relations. This more
proactive approach could be the influence of new Foreign
Minister James Huang, who is close to President Chen and
acutely aware of his foreign policy priorities/concerns.
Furthermore, Huang is pushing MOFA to be more proactive
diplomatically and promised to change the way MOFA conducts
foreign policy. Even so, it demonstrates that Taiwan is
worried about the course of Vatican diplomacy.
KEEGAN