TAO VICE MINISTER RAISES CONCERNS ABOUT CHEN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BEIJING 000001

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/30/2031
TAGS: PGOV PREL CH TW
SUBJECT: TAO VICE MINISTER RAISES CONCERNS ABOUT CHEN
SHUI-BIAN SPEECH, CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM

REF: A. NORRIS-SEDNEY 12/30 E-MAIL (NOTAL)

B. BEIJING 3626

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires David S. Sedney. Reasons 1.4 (b/d).

Summary
--------------


1. (C) China is concerned about Chen Shui-bian's
"dangerous" plans to pursue de jure independence for
Taiwan through constitutional reform and expects Chen
to emphasize this theme in his New Year speech, Taiwan
Affairs Office (TAO) Administrative Vice Minister
Zheng Lizhong told the Charge December 30. Zheng said
Chen's secessionist maneuvering presents real danger
to the United States-China bilateral relationship. He
asked the United States to act immediately to rein
Chen in. The Charge stressed our one-China policy
based on the three Joint Communiques and the Taiwan
Relations Act. Reminding Zheng that Taiwan possesses
a vibrant democracy, the Charge urged China to engage
Taiwan's elected officials, including Chen and other
DPP representatives, with a view to expanding the
avenues of productive discussion. End Summary.

Chen's Upcoming Speech Spurs Fears
--------------


2. (C) Zheng requested an urgent meeting December 30
to repeat the same points Ambassador Zhou made to AA/S
John via telephone in Washington on December 29. (Ref
A; also see para 8 for full text of the Chinese
talking points, which both Zhou and Zheng used.)
Zheng said that the Chinese Government has learned
from "reliable sources" that Chen Shui-bian plans to
use his New Years address to discuss the idea of
constitutional reform and the launch of a so-called
"second republic." Zheng said Chen plans submit his
proposals to the Legislative Yuan for deliberation
during the first several months of 2007. Zheng
related that the preamble of the proposed second
republic constitution states that Taiwan is a
democratic republic, declares Taiwan's existing
constitution to be "frozen," and expounds on the
theory of "one country on each side of the strait."
He described this strategy as the same "trick" Chen
used on the United States in February to "abolish" the
National Unification Council and "freeze" the NUC
Guidelines. Chen wants to build on this success.
Zheng cautioned that such maneuvering risks real
danger to the United States-China relationship and
could harm regional and global stability. In this
context, Zheng said China urges the United States take
"immediate and effective steps to stop Chen."

No Change in United States Policy
--------------


3. (C) The Charge told Zheng that, as President Bush
has said, our one-China policy remains unchanged. Our
one-China policy is based on the three Joint
Communiques and the Taiwan Relations Act. We believe
it is very important for people on both sides of the
Taiwan Strait to engage in dialogue and discussion and
to move toward a peaceful resolution of the Taiwan
issue that is acceptable to both sides. The United
States does not support Taiwan independence and
opposes unilateral steps from either side that change
the status quo. In addition, the Charge urged the
Chinese government to engage with Taiwan's elected
officials, including Chen Shui-bian and other DPP
representatives, in order to expand the scope and
content of discussions between the sides.


4. (C) Observing that the Chinese Government is well
aware of the efforts the United States Government
expended on the NUC/NUG issue last February (ref B),
the Charge emphasized that the United States has no
interest in the creation of a crisis or in escalating
tensions. As we have in the past, the United States
will act responsibly on the Taiwan issue, the Charge
stated.

Zheng: United States Should Rein Chen In
--------------


5. (C) Zheng responded that peace and stability
across the Taiwan Strait is the wish of all Chinese
people, but that Chen and other Taiwan authorities
have broken all their promises and are attempting to

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ratchet up tensions. Moreover, they are trying to
undermine relations between the United States and
China. Zheng repeated China's request that the United
States check Chen's behavior, cautioning that if he
proceeds with his plans, "the consequences will be
impossible to calculate."

Charge: It's Not That Simple
--------------


6. (C) The Charge reminded Zheng that Taiwan
possesses a freely elected Government as well as
freedom of the press and association. Taiwan's
political progress in these areas is what the United
States supports for all peoples and has attracted
great admiration and support in the United States.
Taiwan's advances on rule of law issues has been
impressive as well, the Charge said, pointing to the
recent conviction of Chen Shui-bian's son in law on
corruption charges as evidence of the Taiwan legal
system's soundness. As for Chen himself, he was
elected in accordance with the constitution and he
enjoys the support of constituencies in Taiwan and
even the United States. In this context, the Charge
said, there are factions in the DPP who complain
bitterly about interference in Taiwan's own affairs
whenever the United States tries to exert influence on
the local political process. This is not a simple
case of the United States being able to tell Chen what
to do and then he does it. The Charge reiterated that
given the complexity and sensitivity of the situation,
China can be assured that the United States will act
responsibly.


7. (C) Zheng replied that the crux of the problem is
that Chen is misusing Taiwan's democratic system (and
is employing other means as well) to "realize de jure
Taiwan independence." The United States and China
need to pay close attention in order to prevent Chen
from achieving his goals and to safeguard peace and
stability across the Strait, Zheng concluded.


Text of Chinese Points
--------------


8. (SBU) Begin text of Chinese talking points (Note:
The English translation was provided to EAP/CM; Post
has included minor edits based on the Chinese language
text, which Zheng passed to the Charge at the end of
the meeting. End Note):

In early November, the Chinese side briefed the United
States side on the internal plan of Chen Shui-bian and
the DPP regarding four different drafts for
"constitutional reengineering," which include the
draft for the so-called "constitution of the second
republic." According to reliable recent information,
Chen has decided to promote "constitutional
reengineering" in the form of making a "constitution
of the second republic" and the DPP has completed the
draft, which will be submitted to the DPP Central
Executive Committee for discussion and decision in
January 2007 and sponsored by DPP "legislators" and
introduced in the "legislative yuan" in February 2007.
Chen also plans to trumpet secessionist stances in his
New Year address and talk directly about the
"constitution of the second republic." This signifies
that Chen and his authorities have entered a highly
dangerous period in seeking "de jure Taiwan
independence."

Chen attempts to stage the same trick he used in
"abolishing NUC" and "freezing the NUC Guidelines"
earlier this year. In the name of making a
"constitution of the second republic," he will
continue to deceive the United States and the
international community. The preamble of the draft
"constitution of the second republic" openly claims
that "Taiwan is a democratic republic," that the
existing constitution will be frozen and that the
theory of "one country on each side of the Taiwan
Strait" is incorporated into the draft. This is an
attempt at de jure secession from Chen, which is aimed
at "de dure independence."

We wish to draw the United States' attention to the
fact that Chen is employing various tactics to
accelerate the making of a "constitution of the second
republic." This shows that he has completely

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abandoned his commitment to the United States and the
international community on the "four no's" and his
pledge that the "constitutional reengineering" will
not make changes to "sovereignty and territory." Even
if he had to shelf the "constitution of the second
republic" for the time being, he would try every means
to insert its substance into other packages. The
experience of the "abolition of the NUC and its
Guidelines" has made Chen and other secessionists
believe that the "second republic" is marketable in
the United States, who will accept a "constitution of
the second republic" or other similar plans in the
end.

Taiwan has been the sacred territory of China since
ancient times. Taiwan has never been a country. The
1.3 billion Chinese people will never allow anyone to
make Taiwan secede from China in any form. We are
prepared for the worst case scenario. If Chen takes
desperate reckless steps, we would have to take
resolute measures.

We have taken note that, in order to safeguard the
overall interests of China-United States relations,
the United States has taken measures to restrain
Chen's adventurous moves of seeking "de jure Taiwan
independence" through "constitutional reengineering."
However, Chen Shui-bian is a reckless politician
without any credibility. Whatever the consequence, he
will go headlong to seek "de jure Taiwan
independence." If he were not effectively restrained,
there could be an enormous shock to the China-United
States relationship, which would gravely threaten
peace in the Asia Pacific region and the rest of the
world. The Chinese side strongly urges the United
States side to fully recognize the provocation,
gravity and danger of the above-mentioned "Taiwan
independence" moves of Chen Shui-bian and take
immediate and effective measures to stop him. China
and the United States should increase communication
and cooperation and work together to prevent major
incidents of "Taiwan independence" and maintain peace
in the Taiwan Strait. This serves the fundamental
interests of both countries and peoples.

End text.

SEDNEY