PROPOSED CHEN YUNLIN VISIT TO TAIWAN, NEVER

C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 019033

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/08/2031
TAGS: PREL MARR CH TW
SUBJECT: PROPOSED CHEN YUNLIN VISIT TO TAIWAN, NEVER
APPROVED BY TAIWAN AUTHORITIES, OFFICIALLY OFF


CLASSIFIED BY: CLASSIFIED BY POLITICAL MINISTER COUNSELOR DANIEL
SHIELDS. REASONS 1.4 (B/D).

SUMMARY
--------------


1. (C) THE MAINLAND'S TAIWAN AFFAIRS OFFICE (TAO)
TOLD THE CHINESE PRESS THAT TAO DIRECTOR CHEN YUNLIN
WAS FORCED TO "CANCEL" HIS PLANNED TRAVEL TO TAIWAN
FOR AN AGRICULTURAL FORUM IN OCTOBER, AS TAIWAN
AUTHORITIES REFUSE TO ALLOW HIM TO ATTEND. THE
ANNOUNCEMENT WAS MADE FOLLOWING A LENGTHY MEETING WITH
VISITING KMT OFFICIALS IN BEIJING TO DISCUSS THE
PLANNED FORUM AND OTHER EXCHANGES. TAO DIRECTOR
GENERAL WANG XIAN TOLD POLOFF ON SEPTEMBER 8 THAT
CHINA WILL "NOT MAKE A BIG DEAL" OF THE
"CANCELLATION." TAIWAN POLITICS ARE CURRENTLY
SENSITIVE AND MAKE PROGRESS DIFFICULT, HE SAID.
NEVERTHELESS, THE TAO IS CONFIDENT THAT PROGRESS ON
ENHANCING CROSS-STRAIT TIES WILL BE MADE BEFORE THE
END OF THE YEAR, HE STATED. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) FOLLOWING A SEPTEMBER 7 MEETING BETWEEN TAO
DIRECTOR CHEN YUNLIN AND VISITING KMT OFFICIALS, CHEN
AND DIRECTOR OF THE KMT CENTRAL POLICY COMMITTEE TSENG
YUNG-CHUAN TOLD THE CHINESE PRESS THAT CHEN'S PLANS TO
ATTEND AN OCTOBER AGRICULTURAL FORUM IN TAIWAN WERE
OFF. CHEN WAS QUOTED AS SAYING THAT HE HAS BEEN
"LONGING FOR A CHANCE TO GO TO TAIWAN, BUT HAS NOW MET
WITH SOME DIFFICULTIES AND IT IS TIME TO RECONSIDER."
TSENG TOLD REPORTERS THAT THE FORUM MIGHT BE HELD IN

SIPDIS
OCTOBER ON THE MAINLAND, BUT TAO DIRECTOR GENERAL WANG
XIAN TOLD POLOFF ON SEPTEMBER 8 THAT IT WAS NOT YET
CLEAR THAT THE FORUM WOULD BE HELD AT ALL.


3. (SBU) THE SEPTEMBER 7 TAO STATEMENT ON THE
"CANCELLATION" ACCUSED THE TAIWAN AUTHORITIES OF
"SETTING UNREASONABLE HURDLES TO FOIL PLANS TO HOLD
THE FORUM IN TAIPEI." IT CITED REGRET OVER "THE
SETTING OF POLITICAL CONDITIONS TO DELAY AND BLOCK
EXCHANGE THAT IS CONDUCIVE TO IMPROVING AND DEVELOPING
CROSS-STRAIT RELATIONS."


4. (C) ASKED ABOUT THE STATEMENT, WANG SAID THAT,
WHILE CHEN IS DISAPPOINTED, THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT
DOES NOT WANT TO "MAKE A BIG DEAL" OUT OF THE
"CANCELLATION." THE PRC UNDERSTANDS THE SENSITIVITY
OF THE CURRENT POLITICS ON TAIWAN, WHICH MAKES THINGS
"MORE DIFFICULT," WANG SAID. WANG SAID THAT TAO FEELS
CONFIDENT THAT PROGRESS ON ENHANCING CROSS-STRAIT TIES
WILL BE MADE BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR. THE MAINLAND
WILL FOCUS PARTICULARLY ON EXCHANGES THAT BENEFIT
TRADITIONAL "DEEP GREEN" CONSTITUENCIES LIKE FARMERS.


5. (C) WANG ASKED POLOFF ABOUT JOSEPH WU'S SPEECH AT
THE WILSON CENTER IN WASHINGTON ON SEPTEMBER 5, IN
WHICH HE SAID WU URGED U.S. PRESSURE ON CHINA TO OPEN
DIRECT CONTACT WITH ELECTED AUTHORITIES ON TAIWAN.
POLOFF STATED THAT THE UNITED STATES HAS CONSISTENTLY
URGED THAT CHINA ENTER INTO DIALOGUE WITH THE ELECTED
AUTHORITIES ON TAIWAN AND CONTINUES TO DO SO.

RANDT