Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06TAIPEI262
2006-01-25 08:55:00
CONFIDENTIAL
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Cable title:
NEW ECON CABINET IN TAIWAN, SAME TIGHT
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C O N F I D E N T I A L TAIPEI 000262
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE PASS USTR
STATE FOR EAP/TC,
USTR FOR WINTER AND WINELAND,
TREASURY ALSO PASS TO FEDERAL RESERVE/BOARD OF GOVERNORS,
AND SAN FRANCISCO FRB/TERESA CURRAN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/25/2011
TAGS: ECON PGOV PREL TW
SUBJECT: NEW ECON CABINET IN TAIWAN, SAME TIGHT
CROSS-STRAIT POLICY (C-AL5-01647)
REF: A. TAIPEI 261
B. TAIPEI 242
C. TAIPEI 221
Classified By: AIT Acting Director David Keegan for reasons 1.5 (b),(d
)
C O N F I D E N T I A L TAIPEI 000262
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE PASS USTR
STATE FOR EAP/TC,
USTR FOR WINTER AND WINELAND,
TREASURY ALSO PASS TO FEDERAL RESERVE/BOARD OF GOVERNORS,
AND SAN FRANCISCO FRB/TERESA CURRAN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/25/2011
TAGS: ECON PGOV PREL TW
SUBJECT: NEW ECON CABINET IN TAIWAN, SAME TIGHT
CROSS-STRAIT POLICY (C-AL5-01647)
REF: A. TAIPEI 261
B. TAIPEI 242
C. TAIPEI 221
Classified By: AIT Acting Director David Keegan for reasons 1.5 (b),(d
)
1. (C) Ref A reports on the new economic ministers in Taiwan.
After discussions with a range of interlocutors it appears
unlikely that the new cabinet will push for liberalization
of
cross-Strait economic ties. A senior banker suggested
to AIT/T that while he sees many of the new appointees as
political ideologues, in particular the new Finance and
Transportation ministers, it is too early to say exactly
what policies the cabinet will implement. However, many of
his business colleagues have already made up their minds.
AmCham Executive Director Richard Vuylsteke told AIT/T that
he expects little progress on cross-Strait issues during
the remainder of Chen Shui-bian's term. A local lawyer in
the financial sector summed up his view as "another two
years wasted." The pessimistic tone was practically
uniform across the range of interlocutors.
Economic Development Advisory Commission?
--------------
2. (C) One ray of hope is that the Administration may convene
the Second Economic Advisory Commission (EDAC),once the dust
has settled from the Lunar New Year break and the Cabinet
reshuffle. A small minority in the business community see
the EDAC as an opportunity for the Chen Administration to
float some liberalization policies and get a general
consensus to move forward in certain areas. However, it is
far too soon to say how this might work out. The idea for
the second EDAC has never been clearly defined and has
already undergone a number of variations. Originally it was
to exclude any KMT participation, but after the December 3
DPP election setback the EDAC was redefined to be inclusive.
At one point Vice Premier Wu Rong-I was to organize the
effort, but he has now left the scene and no one seems to
know now if there will be a second EDAC or not. KMT Vice
Chairman Chiang Ping-kun told AIT/T that he has advised KMT
Chairman Ma Ying-jeou that if an EDAC is held it should be
strictly without any type of political participation. He
said that people of all political stripes should participate,
but that they should do so only in their capacity as business
representatives, technical experts or academics.
KEEGAN
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE PASS USTR
STATE FOR EAP/TC,
USTR FOR WINTER AND WINELAND,
TREASURY ALSO PASS TO FEDERAL RESERVE/BOARD OF GOVERNORS,
AND SAN FRANCISCO FRB/TERESA CURRAN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/25/2011
TAGS: ECON PGOV PREL TW
SUBJECT: NEW ECON CABINET IN TAIWAN, SAME TIGHT
CROSS-STRAIT POLICY (C-AL5-01647)
REF: A. TAIPEI 261
B. TAIPEI 242
C. TAIPEI 221
Classified By: AIT Acting Director David Keegan for reasons 1.5 (b),(d
)
1. (C) Ref A reports on the new economic ministers in Taiwan.
After discussions with a range of interlocutors it appears
unlikely that the new cabinet will push for liberalization
of
cross-Strait economic ties. A senior banker suggested
to AIT/T that while he sees many of the new appointees as
political ideologues, in particular the new Finance and
Transportation ministers, it is too early to say exactly
what policies the cabinet will implement. However, many of
his business colleagues have already made up their minds.
AmCham Executive Director Richard Vuylsteke told AIT/T that
he expects little progress on cross-Strait issues during
the remainder of Chen Shui-bian's term. A local lawyer in
the financial sector summed up his view as "another two
years wasted." The pessimistic tone was practically
uniform across the range of interlocutors.
Economic Development Advisory Commission?
--------------
2. (C) One ray of hope is that the Administration may convene
the Second Economic Advisory Commission (EDAC),once the dust
has settled from the Lunar New Year break and the Cabinet
reshuffle. A small minority in the business community see
the EDAC as an opportunity for the Chen Administration to
float some liberalization policies and get a general
consensus to move forward in certain areas. However, it is
far too soon to say how this might work out. The idea for
the second EDAC has never been clearly defined and has
already undergone a number of variations. Originally it was
to exclude any KMT participation, but after the December 3
DPP election setback the EDAC was redefined to be inclusive.
At one point Vice Premier Wu Rong-I was to organize the
effort, but he has now left the scene and no one seems to
know now if there will be a second EDAC or not. KMT Vice
Chairman Chiang Ping-kun told AIT/T that he has advised KMT
Chairman Ma Ying-jeou that if an EDAC is held it should be
strictly without any type of political participation. He
said that people of all political stripes should participate,
but that they should do so only in their capacity as business
representatives, technical experts or academics.
KEEGAN