Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06TAIPEI2823
2006-08-16 22:15:00
SECRET
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Cable title:
MTAG: TAIWAN EXPORT CONTROL: LIBYA
how-toVZCZCXRO2352 OO RUEHGH RUEHHM RUEHNH RUEHTRO DE RUEHIN #2823/01 2282215 ZNY SSSSS ZZH O 162215Z AUG 06 ZDK CORRECTED COPY - ADDED ADDRESSE ZDK FM AIT TAIPEI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1662 INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 5543 RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN PRIORITY 0132 RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 4286 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 0149 RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA PRIORITY 0722 RUEHGP/AMEMBASSY SINGAPORE PRIORITY 6576 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 7940 RUEHTRO/AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI PRIORITY 0001 RUEHGZ/AMCONSUL GUANGZHOU PRIORITY 9496 RUEHHM/AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY PRIORITY 0064 RUEHHK/AMCONSUL HONG KONG PRIORITY 6757 RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA PRIORITY 0021 RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE PRIORITY 0377 RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY CONSIL PRIORITY RUEHGH/AMCONSUL SHANGHAI PRIORITY 0316 RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHMFISS/HQ BICE WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 TAIPEI 002823
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
C O R R E C T E D C O P Y
STATE FOR EAP/TC AND ISN/MTR
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/09/2026
TAGS: MTCRE PARM TW ECCT
SUBJECT: MTAG: TAIWAN EXPORT CONTROL: LIBYA
REF: A. STATE 133160
B. TAIPEI 2701
C. 08/14/2006 BREMMER-YOUNG E-MAIL
TAIPEI 00002823 001.2 OF 002
Classified By: AIT DDIR Robert Wang, REASONS 1.4 B/C
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 TAIPEI 002823
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
C O R R E C T E D C O P Y
STATE FOR EAP/TC AND ISN/MTR
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/09/2026
TAGS: MTCRE PARM TW ECCT
SUBJECT: MTAG: TAIWAN EXPORT CONTROL: LIBYA
REF: A. STATE 133160
B. TAIPEI 2701
C. 08/14/2006 BREMMER-YOUNG E-MAIL
TAIPEI 00002823 001.2 OF 002
Classified By: AIT DDIR Robert Wang, REASONS 1.4 B/C
1. (U) This cable is an action request. See para 9.
2. (S) Summary: On August 15, AIT delivered to the Taiwan
Bureau of Foreign Trade (BOFT) ref A comments on five export
license applications as well as the general information on
overdue responses contained in the August 14 Bremmer-Young
e-mail (ref C). BOFT said Taiwan agencies are now
considering removing Libya from Taiwan's export control list
of "sensitive" territories and provided some additional
detail regarding further restrictions on trade with North
Korea and Iran. End summary.
Taiwan's Export Control System
--------------
3. (S) After receiving ref A comments, BOFT Export Control
Task Force Head Wally Su (Shi-hwa) told AIT that for export
control purposes Taiwan divides territories into two
categories: "sensitive" and "non-sensitive." At present,
Taiwan lists eight sensitive territories: China, Cuba, Iran,
Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Sudan, and Syria.
4. (S) According to Su, the primary difference between the
two categories is that violations of export control
regulations involving exports to sensitive territories can
result in criminal penalties, instead of just administrative
penalties.
5. (S) Note: All items on Taiwan's Sensitive Commodities
List (SCL) require an export license prior to export to any
foreign territory. Taiwan allows U.S. agencies an
opportunity to review and make recommendations on all export
license applications prior to approval or denial of the
application. Strategic High-Tech Commodities (SHTC),which
are derived from the commodity lists included in the
international export control arrangements (such as the
Wassenaar Arrangement),constitute most of the specific
commodities on Taiwan's SCL. In addition to SHTC, Taiwan's
SCL also includes any weapons components or items that can be
used in the manufacture of WMD. End note.
Repaying Libyan Hospitality
--------------
6. (S) After mentioning the recent U.S. removal of Libya
from its list of state sponsors of terrorism, Su told AIT
that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other Taiwan
agencies want to coordinate with U.S. agencies on the timing
and procedure for removing Libya from Taiwan's list of
sensitive territories. He indicated that this move was
partly in response to the welcome Libya showed to President
Chen in allowing him a stopover and high-level courtesy calls
there during the President's international travels in May.
Su mentioned that Taiwan is also considering starting an aid
program for Libya and would be interested in U.S. views on
providing economic aid for Libya.
Taiwan Supports U.S Anti-Terror Efforts
--------------
7. (S) On June 1, 2006, in response to repeated high-level
AIT demarches, Taiwan began requiring export licenses for an
additional 87 commodities prior to export to Iran or North
Korea. Most recently, in response to AIT demarches seeking
support in expressing opposition to the July 4 North Korean
missile tests, Taiwan has compiled a list of 346 additional
commodities that will be added to Taiwan's SCL for exports to
TAIPEI 00002823 002.2 OF 002
North Korea or Iran (ref B). During his August 15 meeting
with AIT, Su indicated that after the formal announcement of
the new measures, there will be a one-week comment period.
If things go smoothly, he said, implementation can begin on
September 15. Su noted that the number of separate
commodities in the supplemental SCL for North Korea and Iran
had changed slightly due to recent changes in the Harmonized
Tariff System, but that it would include all the items
designated by Taiwan in October 2005 (87 commodities) plus
all the items designated by U.S. agencies in December 2005
(346 commodities).
8. (S) In a separate meeting on August 15, MOFA provided a
non-paper to AIT POL that describes the expanded SCL for
exports to North Korea or Iran, planned new restrictions on
air and sea transport between Taiwan and North Korea, and a
commitment to tighten control over financial and other
aspects of dealing with North Korea (reported septel).
9. (S) Action request: Please provide Washington agencies'
guidance on the appropriate response to Taiwan's plans to
remove Libya from its list of sensitive territories for
export control purposes and on its plans to start an aid
program for Libya.
YOUNG
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
C O R R E C T E D C O P Y
STATE FOR EAP/TC AND ISN/MTR
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/09/2026
TAGS: MTCRE PARM TW ECCT
SUBJECT: MTAG: TAIWAN EXPORT CONTROL: LIBYA
REF: A. STATE 133160
B. TAIPEI 2701
C. 08/14/2006 BREMMER-YOUNG E-MAIL
TAIPEI 00002823 001.2 OF 002
Classified By: AIT DDIR Robert Wang, REASONS 1.4 B/C
1. (U) This cable is an action request. See para 9.
2. (S) Summary: On August 15, AIT delivered to the Taiwan
Bureau of Foreign Trade (BOFT) ref A comments on five export
license applications as well as the general information on
overdue responses contained in the August 14 Bremmer-Young
e-mail (ref C). BOFT said Taiwan agencies are now
considering removing Libya from Taiwan's export control list
of "sensitive" territories and provided some additional
detail regarding further restrictions on trade with North
Korea and Iran. End summary.
Taiwan's Export Control System
--------------
3. (S) After receiving ref A comments, BOFT Export Control
Task Force Head Wally Su (Shi-hwa) told AIT that for export
control purposes Taiwan divides territories into two
categories: "sensitive" and "non-sensitive." At present,
Taiwan lists eight sensitive territories: China, Cuba, Iran,
Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Sudan, and Syria.
4. (S) According to Su, the primary difference between the
two categories is that violations of export control
regulations involving exports to sensitive territories can
result in criminal penalties, instead of just administrative
penalties.
5. (S) Note: All items on Taiwan's Sensitive Commodities
List (SCL) require an export license prior to export to any
foreign territory. Taiwan allows U.S. agencies an
opportunity to review and make recommendations on all export
license applications prior to approval or denial of the
application. Strategic High-Tech Commodities (SHTC),which
are derived from the commodity lists included in the
international export control arrangements (such as the
Wassenaar Arrangement),constitute most of the specific
commodities on Taiwan's SCL. In addition to SHTC, Taiwan's
SCL also includes any weapons components or items that can be
used in the manufacture of WMD. End note.
Repaying Libyan Hospitality
--------------
6. (S) After mentioning the recent U.S. removal of Libya
from its list of state sponsors of terrorism, Su told AIT
that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other Taiwan
agencies want to coordinate with U.S. agencies on the timing
and procedure for removing Libya from Taiwan's list of
sensitive territories. He indicated that this move was
partly in response to the welcome Libya showed to President
Chen in allowing him a stopover and high-level courtesy calls
there during the President's international travels in May.
Su mentioned that Taiwan is also considering starting an aid
program for Libya and would be interested in U.S. views on
providing economic aid for Libya.
Taiwan Supports U.S Anti-Terror Efforts
--------------
7. (S) On June 1, 2006, in response to repeated high-level
AIT demarches, Taiwan began requiring export licenses for an
additional 87 commodities prior to export to Iran or North
Korea. Most recently, in response to AIT demarches seeking
support in expressing opposition to the July 4 North Korean
missile tests, Taiwan has compiled a list of 346 additional
commodities that will be added to Taiwan's SCL for exports to
TAIPEI 00002823 002.2 OF 002
North Korea or Iran (ref B). During his August 15 meeting
with AIT, Su indicated that after the formal announcement of
the new measures, there will be a one-week comment period.
If things go smoothly, he said, implementation can begin on
September 15. Su noted that the number of separate
commodities in the supplemental SCL for North Korea and Iran
had changed slightly due to recent changes in the Harmonized
Tariff System, but that it would include all the items
designated by Taiwan in October 2005 (87 commodities) plus
all the items designated by U.S. agencies in December 2005
(346 commodities).
8. (S) In a separate meeting on August 15, MOFA provided a
non-paper to AIT POL that describes the expanded SCL for
exports to North Korea or Iran, planned new restrictions on
air and sea transport between Taiwan and North Korea, and a
commitment to tighten control over financial and other
aspects of dealing with North Korea (reported septel).
9. (S) Action request: Please provide Washington agencies'
guidance on the appropriate response to Taiwan's plans to
remove Libya from its list of sensitive territories for
export control purposes and on its plans to start an aid
program for Libya.
YOUNG