Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06NASSAU1597
2006-10-20 12:38:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Nassau
Cable title:
NO ANTICIPATED TAIWAN PRESSURE ON BAHAMIAN
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHBH #1597 2931238 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 201238Z OCT 06 FM AMEMBASSY NASSAU TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3404 INFO RUEHBE/AMEMBASSY BELIZE 1304 RUEHWN/AMEMBASSY BRIDGETOWN 5469 RUEHGE/AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN 3571 RUEHKG/AMEMBASSY KINGSTON 8416 RUEHPU/AMEMBASSY PORT AU PRINCE 3428 RUEHSP/AMEMBASSY PORT OF SPAIN 4586 RUEHDG/AMEMBASSY SANTO DOMINGO 2702 RUEHUB/USINT HAVANA 0306
C O N F I D E N T I A L NASSAU 001597
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/CAR RCBUDDEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/18/2016
TAGS: PINR PREL TW BF
SUBJECT: NO ANTICIPATED TAIWAN PRESSURE ON BAHAMIAN
ELECTIONS (C-AL6-01675)
REF: STATE 175636
C O N F I D E N T I A L NASSAU 001597
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/CAR RCBUDDEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/18/2016
TAGS: PINR PREL TW BF
SUBJECT: NO ANTICIPATED TAIWAN PRESSURE ON BAHAMIAN
ELECTIONS (C-AL6-01675)
REF: STATE 175636
1. (C/NF) Bahamian elections must be held no later than May
2007, and are expected sooner. Campaigning is underway
without any known Taiwanese involvement. For both Bahamian
political parties, the potential to open The Bahamas' tourism
economy to millions of Chinese tourists, the attraction of
Chinese goods to an import-dependent island, and the
influence of Chinese-owned Hutchison Whampoa through the
Freeport Container Port in Grand Bahama work against any
flirtation with Taiwan.
2. (C/NF) The Bahamas ruling party, the Progressive Liberal
Party (PLP),has actively expanded the Bahamas' economic
relationship with China, opened an Embassy in China in
January, and has accepted Chinese support for construction of
a national stadium (with ground breaking expected in January
2007). The PLP has firmly and repeatedly supported a One
China Policy and will not reverse its position for upcoming
elections.
3. (C/NF) The Bahamian opposition party, the Free National
Movement (FNM),is usually critical of any PLP activity, but
has been supportive of PLP actions toward China. FNM party
leader Hubert Ingraham was Prime Minister in 1997 when The
Bahamas switched its support from Taiwan and opened
diplomatic relations with China. Influential FNM founding
member Sir Arthur Folkes was the first Ambassador to China
and currently serves as vice-president of the China-Bahamas
Friendship Association. Any Taiwanese efforts to lobby FNM
support would be Quixotic.
4. (C/NF) Post expects no Taiwanese influence on local
elections, but will continue to monitor and report as
appropriate.
HARDT
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/CAR RCBUDDEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/18/2016
TAGS: PINR PREL TW BF
SUBJECT: NO ANTICIPATED TAIWAN PRESSURE ON BAHAMIAN
ELECTIONS (C-AL6-01675)
REF: STATE 175636
1. (C/NF) Bahamian elections must be held no later than May
2007, and are expected sooner. Campaigning is underway
without any known Taiwanese involvement. For both Bahamian
political parties, the potential to open The Bahamas' tourism
economy to millions of Chinese tourists, the attraction of
Chinese goods to an import-dependent island, and the
influence of Chinese-owned Hutchison Whampoa through the
Freeport Container Port in Grand Bahama work against any
flirtation with Taiwan.
2. (C/NF) The Bahamas ruling party, the Progressive Liberal
Party (PLP),has actively expanded the Bahamas' economic
relationship with China, opened an Embassy in China in
January, and has accepted Chinese support for construction of
a national stadium (with ground breaking expected in January
2007). The PLP has firmly and repeatedly supported a One
China Policy and will not reverse its position for upcoming
elections.
3. (C/NF) The Bahamian opposition party, the Free National
Movement (FNM),is usually critical of any PLP activity, but
has been supportive of PLP actions toward China. FNM party
leader Hubert Ingraham was Prime Minister in 1997 when The
Bahamas switched its support from Taiwan and opened
diplomatic relations with China. Influential FNM founding
member Sir Arthur Folkes was the first Ambassador to China
and currently serves as vice-president of the China-Bahamas
Friendship Association. Any Taiwanese efforts to lobby FNM
support would be Quixotic.
4. (C/NF) Post expects no Taiwanese influence on local
elections, but will continue to monitor and report as
appropriate.
HARDT