DIRECTOR,S INTRODUCTORY MEETING WITH VICE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TAIPEI 001544 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/02/2031 TAGS: PGOV PREL TW SUBJECT: DIRECTOR,S INTRODUCTORY MEETING WITH VICE PRESIDENT ANNETTE LU, APRIL 28, 2006 Classified By: AIT Director Stephen M. Young, Reasons: 1.4 (b/d) ¶1. (C) Summary: Hopefully the halving of the number of legislators in 2007 will improve the "quality" of the legislature, Vice President Annette Lu told the Director during their introductory meeting on April 28. As could be expected, the outspoken Lu criticized both KMT Chairman Ma Ying-jeou and Honorary Chairman Lien Chan, Ma for being a "movie star" rather than a national leader, and Lien for "defecting" to China. Lu argued that China's "soft power" economic tactics are even more threatening than China's missiles aimed at Taiwan. Lu also highlighted her work with the Democratic Pacific Union, including its founding of a Pacific Center for Disaster Reduction. End Summary. Mission Impossible: Constitutional Reform -------------- ¶2. (C) During an introductory meeting on April 28, Taiwan Vice President Annette Lu told the Director, "I am supposed to be silent, as a vice president, but I continue to maintain my commitment to be as outspoken as possible." Lu said that she and President Chen Shui-bian both oppose calls from some legislators to increase the size of the Legislative Yuan (LY),which will be halved to only 113 seats in 2007. Lu called the current crop of legislators "very incompetent," and expressed optimism that halving the number of seats will improve the LY's quality and professionalism. Lu also suggested that the reduction in seats will make it very difficult for small political parties to survive, possibly leading to the establishment of a two-party political system and a more mature, consolidated democracy. ¶3. (C) From a practical point of view, Lu observed, constitutional reform will be very difficult between now and ¶2008. However, President Chen's calls for grass-roots work on constitutional drafts are important as a mechanism to educate Taiwan's people about constitutionalism, particularly since the 1947 ROC constitution was brought from China and had "nothing to do with Taiwan." Repeating an analogy she used in a recent press interview, Lu said, "The constitution we have now is like a 'grandma's pajamas' which are now too old and dingy for her little granddaughter. If we can afford it, we should buy a new pair of pajamas." "Lucky" Ma Ying-jeou -------------- �A;¶4. (C) Lu noted that, despite pressure on Kuomintang (KMT) Chairman Ma Ying-jeou on the arms procurement issue during his visit to the U.S. in late March, Ma had not changed his position since returning to Taiwan. Lu attributed Ma's political success to "luck," particularly, the media favor he received beginning from his return from law school at Harvard in the early 1980s. However, Lu stressed, what Taiwan needs is a national leader, not a "movie star." Lu suggested that the DPP should challenge Ma's loyalty to Taiwan in the run-up to the 2008 presidential election, adding that it is up to Ma to demonstrate that he really is loyal to Taiwan. ¶5. (C) Lu was even more critical in assessing Honorary KMT Chairman Lien Chan's behavior during his mid-April visit to China. Lu questioned why Lien did not make any positive remarks about Taiwan, adding that his comments about President Chen "made her sick." "Lien just defected to China, simply because he couldn't make his dream of becoming Taiwan's president come true." Cross-Strait Relations -------------- ¶6. (C) Asked about cross-Strait economic relations and the PRC military threat, Lu showed the Director a series of powerpoint presentations aimed at demonstrating that China's "soft power" economic tactics, which are seducing the Taiwan people, are even more threatening than missiles. According to Lu's statistics, Taiwan's FDI in China is more than 50 percent of GDP, a much higher percentage than for South Korea or other countries. The Taiwan government cannot control or TAIPEI 00001544 002 OF 002 get revenue from these funds, Lu pointed out. Lu also stressed the movement from Taiwan to China of notebook computer manufacture. According to Lu, China is engaged in six types of war with Taiwan: military, economic, diplomatic, psychological, media, and legal. Taiwan needs more U.S. support in all of these areas, she said. The Director explained that the U.S. is pressing China to be a responsible stakeholder in the international community. Lu questioned whether China is trustworthy. Lu's Work in Democracy Building -------------- ¶7. (C) Lu discussed her work with the Democratic Pacific Union (DPU) in promoting three common values of the "DPP": democracy, peace, and prosperity. Director Young told Lu that Taiwan should look for ways to promote its model of democracy quietly. Lu responded, "We have been quiet long enough." Lu noted that the DPU is starting a Pacific Congressional Caucus (PCC),which will have its inaugural meeting in summer 2006 in Seoul, South Korea. The PCC will be chaired by LY Speaker Wang Jin-pyng, and its first session will focus on congressional reform. ¶8. (C) Lu noted that the DPU is in the process of establishing a Pacific University Caucus, which will promote academic exchanges and sharing of academic resources among DPU member countries. Lu also outlined other areas of work for the DPU, including providing academic scholarships for 20 graduate students at Taiwan universities, and the establishment of a Pacific Center for Disaster Reduction (PCDR),following the late 2005 tsunami disaster. The PCDR plans to bring together 30 foreign experts soon to share experiences on regional disasters and help to form a regional disaster-monitoring network. In the future, the DPU wants to establish separate institutes focusing on democracy, peace and prosperity. ¶9. (C) Director Young cautioned that Taiwan needs to tread carefully in promoting democracy overseas, so that its initiatives will not be misinterpreted as efforts to promote Taiwan independence. Lu argued that the PRC should not pay so much attention to Taiwan. "China's so big, while we are so small. Why are they afraid of us? Why aren't they more confident of their own position?" According to Lu, the DPU never discusses China, as China does not qualify for membership. Combating DPP Corruption -------------- ¶10. (C) Lu said she felt ashamed about allegations of DPP corruption, even though she personally believes that 99 percent of DPP members are clean and that some allegations are untrue. Lu acknowledged that the Chen administration has not done a good enough job in wiping out corruption, adding that some of the Taiwan people were polluted by the practices of the KMT when it was the ruling party. ¶11. (C) As an example of a possible measure to combat corruption, Lu noted a campaign to increase the requirements to work as a lawyer or a judge in Taiwan. Under this plan and starting in 2008, lawyers will be required to obtain both a college degree and a masters degree in law prior to taking the Taiwan bar exam. After 2010 Judges will have to have served at least three years as a lawyer or attorney prior to joining the bench. Comment -------------- ¶12. (C) Lu appeared more resigned now to her marginalization in the Chen administration than she had been five years ago when the Director last saw her. That said, in private -- and occasionally in public -- she remains an outspoken veteran of opposition days, despite her dramatically changed political circumstances since 2000. The question is: is anybody really listening? YOUNG