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