Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06AITTAIPEI951
2006-03-22 05:16:00
CONFIDENTIAL
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Cable title:  

TAIWAN'S NEW DIPLOMATIC STRATEGY IN THE MIDDLE EAST

Tags:  PREL PGOV ASEC XR TW 
pdf how-to read a cable
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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 000951 

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E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/06/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV ASEC XR TW
SUBJECT: TAIWAN'S NEW DIPLOMATIC STRATEGY IN THE MIDDLE EAST

REF: A. TAIPEI 0191

B. TAIPEI 0225

Classified By: AIT Director Stephen Young, Reason 1.4 (b/d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L AIT TAIPEI 000951

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/06/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV ASEC XR TW
SUBJECT: TAIWAN'S NEW DIPLOMATIC STRATEGY IN THE MIDDLE EAST

REF: A. TAIPEI 0191

B. TAIPEI 0225

Classified By: AIT Director Stephen Young, Reason 1.4 (b/d)


1. (C) Summary: Taiwan has been quietly pursuing a diplomatic
strategy that focuses on expanding bilateral ties in the
Middle East and North Africa. In the last year, Taiwan made
progress with Libya, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia and is working
to expand ties with Israel. Taipei has also shown a
willingness to exercise more control in publicizing its
foreign policy initiatives in order to avoid PRC preemptive
moves or subsequent retaliation. New Foreign Minister James
Huang, with close ties to President Chen Shui-bian, has been
the primary driver of this strategy and has called for Taiwan
to expand its outreach to the Middle East. The challenge
will be whether President Chen can continue pursuing discreet
diplomacy and resist the impulse to publicize his foreign
policy gains for domestic political gain. End summary.


2. (C) This is the first of two cables analyzing Taiwan's
foreign policy in the Middle East. The first cable examines
the diplomatic success Taiwan has achieved over the last year
and Taipei's willingness to pursue discreet ties to avoid PRC
pressure. The second cable will discuss the PRC's growing
influence in the Middle East and the challenges Taipei faces
in its efforts to counter Beijing. The cable will also
report analyses of Taiwan's foreign policy by Middle Eastern
diplomats resident in Taipei.

Libya: A Chen Visit?
--------------


3. (C) Taiwan's most recent diplomatic overture involved
Libya and the visit of Muammar Qadhafi's son, Saif al-Islam,
to Taipei in January 2006 (ref A). Immediately afterwards,
Taiwan Presidential Office officials announced that President
Chen had been invited to visit Libya and that both
governments will open representative offices and cooperate in
the fields of oil exploration, technology, trade, and
military affairs. Libyan Foreign Ministry officials,
however, denied that an invitation had been extended and
there are still unresolved questions over Saif al-Islam's
authority to act on behalf of Tripoli (ref B). Despite these

uncertainties, Taiwan officials considered the visit a
success, which involved weeks of secret negotiations -- Saif
al-Islam's visit was not revealed to the press until after he
extended an invitation to Chen to visit Tripoli.

UAE: Transit Surprise
--------------


4. (C) Earlier, President Chen scored a surprise diplomatic
victory in September 2005 with his visit to the UAE on the
way back from a trip to Central America. The visit was
ironed out in secret by former Presidential Office
Deputy-Secretary General, now Foreign Minister James Huang.
Huang told AIT that he made secret trips to Abu Dhabi in
August and September to make final arrangements. Several
joint economic initiatives were signed including possible
military cooperation. The UAE agreed to buy a 20 percent
stake in Taiwan's China Petroleum Company (CPC) while China
Airlines signed a deal to organize a new civilian airline for
the UAE. UAE officials plan to invest in Taiwan's science
and technology sectors and were drawn to Taiwan by Taipei's
technical expertise. According to Huang, the UAE had been
dissatisfied with PRC business practices, including Beijing's
eagerness to do business with Iran.

Saudi Arabia: High-Level Visits
--------------


5. (C) Taiwan also achieved diplomatic success with
high-level visits and cooperation with Saudi Arabia. Former
Foreign Minister Mark Chen traveled to Saudi Arabia in 2005
at least two and possibly three times, including for the
funeral of King Fahd, which was attended by many world
leaders. Taiwan has maintained close ties with Saudi Arabia
and is particularly discreet regarding its relationship with
Riyadh. Israeli Representative in Taipei Ruth Kahanoff and
Turkish Representative Burak Gursel both told AIT that Taiwan
enjoys excellent ties with Saudi Arabia and noted that Taiwan
maintains two trade offices there (Riyadh and Jeddah). They
also pointed out that Riyadh is Taiwan's largest supplier of
oil and has many investments on the island.

Israel: Expanding Ties
--------------


6. (C) Taiwan is also seeking closer ties with Israel.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) Middle Eastern Affairs
Section Chief Sami Leu told AIT that Taiwan enjoys a good
relationship with Tel Aviv. He noted that Taipei carefully
maintains a low profile to ensure Israeli ties are not
jeopardized. Israel's Kahanoff told AIT that, despite
Israel's one China policy, Tel Aviv permits high-level
political visits by Taiwan officials and in 2004, Israel
abstained in the vote on Taiwan's bid for observership status
in the World Health Assembly (WHA). She reported that Taiwan
has stepped up efforts to improve ties in 2005 and told AIT
that Taipei understands it must maintain a low profile with
Tel Aviv. Both Kahanoff and MOFA's Leu told AIT that many
Taiwan officials admire Israel's strong defense model and are
pursuing improved political and security ties.

James Huang's Quiet Diplomacy
--------------


7. (C) The primary factor behind Taiwan's recent diplomatic
success has been Taipei's willingness to pursue expanded
bilateral ties discreetly. Foreign Minister James Huang has
been a key player in Taipei's focus on the Middle East and is
the main driver behind Taiwan's discreet foreign policy
strategy. Before being named Foreign Minister in January
2006, he was the Presidential Office Deputy
Secretary-General. Huang is known for his confidentiality

SIPDIS
and his practice of handling foreign policy in secret to
avoid drawing the ire of Beijing. After his promotion to
Foreign Minister, Huang announced that MOFA will increasingly
focus on the Middle East and North Africa because there are
many opportunities for Taiwan to expand its "international
space" and influence in these regions.

Comment: But Can Chen Remain Quiet?
--------------


8. (C) While transit visits and economic cooperation may seem
minor, Taiwan considers such events to be vital, particularly
as Taiwan's international influence is reduced and the PRC
expands its economic and political power. Taiwan has shown
that discretion can bring results -- the UAE visit succeeded
only because it was kept secret. In the past, Taiwan's
foreign policy overtures were sabotaged by the Chen
administration's penchant for publicizing foreign policy
initiatives for short-term domestic political gain. The
biggest challenge to Taiwan efforts for a more private
diplomacy is: can Chen remain quiet and resist the temptation
to publicize his foreign policy successes? It does not
appear so. On March 14, an "unnamed Presidential Office
source" leaked details of Chen's plans for a "secret" visit
to Libya in May to the Apple Daily, which could derail any
hopes for a Libya visit.
YOUNG