TAIWAN CLOSES MISSION AS MINSK SUPPORTS BEIJING

C O N F I D E N T I A L MINSK 000022

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/11/2016
TAGS: PREL ECON TW BO
SUBJECT: TAIWAN CLOSES MISSION AS MINSK SUPPORTS BEIJING

REF: A. 05 MINSK 956


B. 05 MINSK 1286

Classified By: Ambassador George Krol for Reasons 1.4 (B,D)


1. (C) Summary: Taiwan is closing its small trade mission in
Belarus, as Minsk grows ever closer to Beijing. In recent
months the mission has had no access to GOB officials, but
has received requests for help from some in the opposition.
The mission never succeeded in its main tasks, promoting
political recognition for Taiwan or increasing bilateral
trade. End summary.


2. (U) On January 3, the Taiwanese government announced it
would close its trade mission in Belarus, and relocate all
functions to their office in Moscow. Taipei argued that
Minsk had failed to support Taiwanese efforts to join the
United Nations and the World Health Organization. Belarus'
MFA responded that Minsk has a one-China policy, and its
relations with Taipei would be guided by agreements Minsk
signed with Beijing.


3. (C) On January 10, Poloffs met over lunch with Chin Feng,
First Secretary (and Head) of the Taipei Economic and Trade
Mission in Minsk. Feng explained that Taipei decided to
close its mission in Belarus, opened in 1996, because Minsk
had not fulfilled its obligations under their bilateral
agreement on relations, and because the GOB continues to grow
closer to Beijing. Under the agreement, Feng claimed Minsk
promised to open a mission in Taipei, which it never did.
GOB rhetoric and actions also show Minsk is moving ever
closer to Beijing, and away from Taiwan. Feng added that his
government expects Lukashenko to be reelected in March,
ensuring no change in GOB policy, and that Taipei decided to
close the mission in advance of elections, to avoid any
"madness" Lukashenko might perpetrate during the election
campaign. Closing this mission will save Taipei USD 500,000
a year. Feng will leave the country in February.


Little Contact or Trade
--------------


4. (C) Feng maintained that Taipei's Minsk mission was small,
with three Taiwanese staff. Their main task was promoting
bilateral trade, but they have had little success. In 2005
bilateral trade remained around USD 30 million, with Taiwan
exporting mainly electronics and importing machinery and
minerals. Feng stated there was no weapons trade between the
two. In 2003 the trade mission brought a delegation of 44
companies to Belarus, which resulted p?UurQQQqthe BKGB, via the FSB, that claimed Belarus' opposition lives
luxuriously on western grants. Feng appeared to believe this
report. Even so, Feng is considering donating his office's
equipment and furniture to those opposition politicians that
he has met.


Growing Relationship between Minsk and Beijing
-------------- -


6. (C) Feng stated that in recent months the GOB has been
moving increasingly closer to Beijing. He estimated that
nearly 1,000 Chinese students are studying in Belarus, and
said military delegations travel between the two countries
frequently. He stated his sources say Beijing and Belarus
have signed a number of under the table trade deals for
military equipment, but would not provide any details.


Comment
--------------


7. (C) Minsk has clearly decided from whom it can gain more
largesse in the battle between Beijing and Taipei, and has
enthusiastically sided with China. During a December visit
to Beijing, Lukashenko asserted that Taiwan has no right to
be independent. In March, Belarus was among the first to
announce it supported a new Chinese law that gave Beijing the
legal right to use force against Taiwan if Taipei moves
towards independence. In exchange, we understand Minsk is
asking for concessionary investments, loans, and trade,
although Beijing is having difficulty finding any objects of
economic interest in Belarus' unreformed economy (reftels).
In an incident reflecting the close ties between Belarus and
China, the Latvian Ambassador in Minsk told us that after a
Latvian minister visited Taipei, China "instructed" Belarus
to shift one day of shipments of Belarusian goods from
Latvian to Estonian ports--an action that cost the Latvian
port several million dollars.
Krol