KMT AIR TRAVEL/TOURISM PROMOTION VISIT TO BEIJING

C O N F I D E N T I A L TAIPEI 000678

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/03/2016
TAGS: PGOV TW
SUBJECT: KMT AIR TRAVEL/TOURISM PROMOTION VISIT TO BEIJING
TOUCHES ON NUC ISSUE


Classified By: AIT Acting Director David J. Keegan, Reason(s): 1.4
(B/D).


1. (C) Summary: PRC Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) Director
Chen Yun-lin asked a visiting Kuomintang Party (KMT)
delegation from Taiwan whether the KMT or the U.S. government
could "restrain" President Chen Shui-bian from abolishing the
National Unification Council and Guidelines (NUC/NUG). KMT
representatives responded that there was little the KMT could
do to stop Chen, who also seemed to be ignoring U.S.
overtures. Chen then informed the KMT representatives that,
based on the muted responses from KMT Chairman Ma Ying-jeou
and the U.S. government, PRC President Hu Jintao wondered
whether China should do something to dissuade Chen from
crossing the line. End Summary.


2. (C) KMT Mainland Affairs Department Director Chang
Jung-kung told AIT that while he was visiting Beijing
February 21-23 as part of a KMT delegation to promote
cross-Strait tourism and charter flights, he was approached
the evening of February 21 by PRC TAO Director Chen Yun-lin,
to discuss President Chen's January 29 proposal to abolish
the NUC/NUG. Chen told Chang that he had been summoned
earlier in the day by PRC President Hu Jintao to discuss the
matter. According to Chang, Chen seemed "nervous," and
wanted to know whether Chang believed the KMT or the U.S.
would be able to "restrain" Chen from breaking his promise
not to "abolish" the NUC.


3. (C) Chang responded to Chen that while the KMT could move
to censure, recall, or even impeach President Chen, none of
those options was likely to go beyond debate in the
Legislative Yuan (LY),and would probably not scare President
Chen away from moving forward on NUC/NUG. Chang said he also
told Chen Yun-lin that President Chen seemed unwilling to
heed U.S. recommendations to leave the NUC/NUG alone. During
their meeting, Chen Yun-lin told Chang that, since the
efforts of the U.S. and of KMT Chairman Ma Ying-jeou did not
appear able to persuade President Chen to change course,
President Hu wondered whether China should act to dissuade
President Chen from scrapping the NUC entirely. Chang said
the Beijing authorities did not see a need to resolve the
Taiwan issue any time soon, but were worried that abolition
of the NUC would encourage President Chen to push
controversial constitutional reforms, aggravating hardliners
within the PRC.


4. (C) On the issue of cross-Strait charter flights and
tourism, Chang told AIT that his delegation succeeded in
convincing the PRC to discuss cross-Strait cargo and
passenger charter flights in whatever order or combination
proposed by the Taipei government. (Note: Taipei wants to
discuss only charter cargo flights at this time. Beijing
previously would not agree to bifurcate cargo and passenger
talks. End note.) The KMT delegation also got Beijing to
agree to future discussions on how Taiwan might be added to
the list of overseas tourist destinations approved by the PRC
government for its citizens.
KEEGAN