CHEN ANNOUNCES THAT NATIONAL UNIFICATION COUNCIL

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 TAIPEI 000597 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/27/2026 TAGS: PGOV PREL TW SUBJECT: CHEN ANNOUNCES THAT NATIONAL UNIFICATION COUNCIL WILL "CEASE TO FUNCTION" AND GUIDELINES WILL "CEASE TO APPLY" Classified By: AIT Acting Director David Keegan, Reasons 1.4 (b/d) ¶1. (C) Summary: President Chen Shui-bian convened the National Security Council (NSC) the afternoon of February 27 to approve the NSC's recommendation that the National Unification Council (NUC) would "cease to function (zhongzhi yunzuo)" and the NUG would "cease to apply (zhongzhi shiyong)." Following the NSC meeting, Chen read a seven-point statement explaining the background of his decision (Text in para 7). Green politicians appear to be accepting Chen's approach even though it steps back from his earlier promise to "abolish" the NUC. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) President Chen convened a meeting of the NSC the afternoon of February 27 to discuss and decide on the NSC's recommendation on dealing with the NUC and NUG. Following the NSC meeting, President Chen announced that the NUC would "cease to function (zhongzhi yunzuo)" and the NUG would "cease to apply (zhongzhi shiyong)." Chen read a seven-point statement explaining the background of his decision (Text in para ). In his statement, Chen stressed that "Taiwan has no intention of changing the status quo and strongly opposes changing the status quo by any non-peaceful means." "The NUC's ceasing to function and the NUG's ceasing to apply have nothing to do with changing the status quo. Rather this is based solely on the democratic principle that respects the people's right to determine their own future. As long as the principle of democracy is honored and the free choice of the 23 million people of Taiwan is respected. we will not exclude any possible form of future development of cross-Strait relationship; however, we insist that no one can apply preconditions, nor impose an ultimate goal, on the people's right to choose." Chen also indirectly suggested that constitutional reform will not deal with sovereignty issues, by stressing it would not involve issues that do not support the status quo. ¶3. (SBU) In his seven-point statement, Chen did not refer to the commitments that he made in his 2000 and 2004 inaugural addresses on maintaining the status quo nor did he say anything about "five no's" or "four no's." In brief comments to the media before the NSC meeting and before reading the seven-point statement, Chen highlighted the protection of Taiwan's democracy and the PRC military threat, including increased missile deployments opposite Taiwan. ¶4. (SBU) Following President Chen's announcement, Presidential Office Secretary General Mark Chen, NSC Secretary General Chiou I-jen, and Foreign Minister James SIPDIS Huang held a press conference shortly after 6 p.m. In response to a question about the "four no's and one shall not," Chiou I-jen responded that the decision on the NUC and NUG will not change the status quo and he also said there should be no use of force (by the PRC). (Note: Television news here did not fully cover the press conference, and we do not have the exact wording used by Chiou.) ¶5. (C) Former President Lee Teng-hui said on February 26 that there is no need to "abolish" the NUC and NUG, because they were products of the former KMT government, and "to cease" (zhongzhi) is enough. Since even Lee and the Taiwan Solidarity Union have endorsed the use of the term "cease" rather than "abolish," Chen is unlikely to be criticized by the deep Green for using a weaker term than "abolish" to neutralize the NUC and NUG. Lighter Green politicians have also generally lined up behind President Chen on the issue, in part in response to strident opposition from the pan-Blue camp, but some question Chen's motivations and timing, pointing out that the NUC and NUG were not an issue until Chen suddenly raised them on January 29. Concerns about the possible U.S. negative reaction have been reduced by recent media reporting on U.S.-Taiwan communications on the issue. Most Green politicians expect the PRC reaction to be limited. ¶6. (C) Several hours prior to Chen's announcement, KMT legislator Lin Yu-fang suggested to AIT that several KMT legislators are trying to exploit the NUC/NUG debate for TAIPEI 00000597 002 OF 003 personal political gain and are acting without direction or approval from KMT Chairman Ma Ying-jeou. KMT legislator Ting Shou-chung has submitted a bill to recall President Chen. Others have proposed legislation to censure Chen or suspend operation of the LY. By contrast, Lin said, Ma,s concern has been to provide a calm counterpoint to Chen,s heated rhetoric. Ma will likely consult with close colleagues to fashion an appropriate response to Chen's actions. In any event, Lin predicted, Ma will not approve using the LY to retaliate, and would likely suppress any attempt to do so. ¶7. (SBU) Begin Text of Informal Translation of Chen's Seven-point Statement: 1) Taiwan expresses its deep appreciation for President Bush,s remarks, in his 2005 Kyoto Speech, that the U.S. values the friendly partnership between the U.S. and Taiwan and applauds Taiwan,s democracy and prosperity. We also appreciate that the US looks forward to continuing cooperation with Taiwan on issues of mutual interests. 2) Taiwan has no intention of changing the status quo and strongly opposes to changing the status quo by any non-peaceful means. We also thank the international community for its support for and concern of maintaining the status quo in the Taiwan Strait. 3) The ceasing of functioning of the National Unification Council and ceasing to use the National Unification Guidelines has nothing to do with changing the status quo. Rather, this is based solely on the democratic principle that respects people,s right to determine their own future. As long as the principle of democracy is honored and the 23 million Taiwan people,s free will of choice is respected, we will not exclude any possible form of future development of cross-Strait relationship; however, we insist that no one can apply preconditions, nor impose an ultimate goal on the people,s right to choose. 4) The spirit of constitutional reform must incorporate the people,s will before adopting any political party,s position; therefore, reform will be enacted from the bottom up and from the outside in. The constitutional reform will also have to follow the current constitutional procedure, which requires the approval of three-fourths of votes of the Legislative Yuan and then must be passed through a national referendum. Any sovereignty issue that doesn,t live up to the constitutional proceedings not only fails to contribute to the maintaining of the statue quo, but also will not be dealt with. 5) In order for the people to achieve prosperity and develop positive cross-Strait relations, both sides must actively seek to establish an interactive and effective mechanism of exchange based on government-to-government negotiation and dialogue, through which we can eliminate differences, build mutual trust and resolve problems. 6) Taiwan people have the right and the obligation to fairly participate in the international community. We are more than willing to play an active and responsible role as a contributor to the global democratic community. China, on many occasions, has unilaterally suppressed Taiwan,s international space and our involvement in the world. This not only violates the universal values of freedom, democracy and human rights, but also negatively affects the people,s perception of each other across the Strait. China,s actions are totally unhelpful to the development of stable relations between the two sides. 7) In order to ensure Taiwan,s national security and avoid the military balance in the Taiwan Strait tilting in China,s favor, Taiwan will actively strengthen its determination and its ability to defend itself; thereby protecting the status quo, Taiwan,s democracy, freedom and peace from being unilaterally altered. End Text. TAIPEI 00000597 003 OF 003 Comment -------------- ¶8. (C) Green politicians appear to be accepting Chen's approach even though it steps back from his earlier promise to "abolish" the NUC. Chen's announcement will lead to a series of reactions in the Taiwan political arena, which we will carefully monitor over the coming days. Although memorial ceremonies tomorrow for the February 28 Incident in 1947 could provide the emotional setting for a more negative Green reaction, Lee Teng-hui's mild comments may defuse that possibility. We will follow up septel on these developments as well as the press conference that followed Chen's announcement and was not fully televised live. KEEGAN