Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07PARAMARIBO297
2007-06-12 11:32:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Paramaribo
Cable title:  

TAIWAN STRIKES AT CHINA IN SURINAME

Tags:  PREL PGOV NS CH TW 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO2457
RR RUEHGR
DE RUEHPO #0297/01 1631132
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 121132Z JUN 07
FM AMEMBASSY PARAMARIBO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9426
INFO RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 0126
RUEHAO/AMCONSUL CURACAO 1132
RUEHIN/AIT TAIPEI 0012
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PARAMARIBO 000297 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

WHA/CAR FOR LAURA LUFTIG

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV NS CH TW
SUBJECT: TAIWAN STRIKES AT CHINA IN SURINAME

REF: A. 2007 PARAMARIBO 165


B. 2006 PARAMARIBO 698

PARAMARIBO 00000297 001.2 OF 002


This cable is the first in a series on Chinese and Taiwanese
activities in Suriname in the Spring of 2007.

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PARAMARIBO 000297

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

WHA/CAR FOR LAURA LUFTIG

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV NS CH TW
SUBJECT: TAIWAN STRIKES AT CHINA IN SURINAME

REF: A. 2007 PARAMARIBO 165


B. 2006 PARAMARIBO 698

PARAMARIBO 00000297 001.2 OF 002


This cable is the first in a series on Chinese and Taiwanese
activities in Suriname in the Spring of 2007.


1. (U) SUMMARY: Responding to a charm-and-funding offensive
(ref A) by the government of the People,s Republic of China
(GOC),the Government of Taiwan (GOT) offered more than U.S.
$100 million in loans and grant assistance to Suriname
through a "Friendship Foundation" in April. Select
government of Suriname (GOS) officials come out quickly with
a strong rejection of Taiwan's offer and an unequivocal
reaffirmation of Suriname's "One China Policy." Minister of
Foreign Affairs Lygia Kraag-Keteldijk declared that the GOS
has made its choice and is not at all interested in what
Taiwan has to offer, and Vice President Ramdien Sardjoe said
the One-China Policy is not up for discussion. In marked
contrast, Minister of Planning and Development Cooperation
Rick van Ravenswaay of governing-coalition member-party
Democratic Alternative ,91 (DA-91) said that, while his
party supports the position of the GOS, it is worth examining
what Taiwan has to offer instead of just blindly following a
"One China Policy," especially if Taiwan offers better
prospects for the development of Suriname. The Foreign
Minister and Vice President,s strong statement of support
confirms the long-standing policy of President Venetiaan, and
in particular his National Party of Suriname (NPS). A
proposed better deal from Taiwan, if true, will not change
the minds of the coalition-leading NPS, but did help to
highlight differences within the coalition, and may provide a
map to a more rocky future for the GOC in Suriname. END
SUMMARY

--------------
Taiwan Offers Hundreds of Millions
--------------


2. (U) Working through the recently established
Suriname-Taiwan Friendship Foundation, the GOT began by
donating U.S. $3,600 in goods for a foster home, then offered
to finance three costly infrastructure projects in the
country, plus provide budgetary assistance of up to U.S. $15
million for the next three years. Additional offers of loans
and grant assistance were estimated at various values between
U.S. $100 million and $200 million (and one newspaper used
the figure U.S. $1 billion). The full-page newspaper ads
detailing the proposal read like a laundry list of
Suriname,s development needs. The ads also specifically
said that the offer was conditional on diplomatic recognition
of Taiwan (despite saying in another paragraph that "Taiwan
makes the offer with absolutely no conditions regarding
Suriname,s foreign policy, unlike the attempts of some other
nations"). Meanwhile, the Foundation launched an extensive
media campaign designed, according to Foundation Secretary
David Chin, "to foster friendship between the peoples of
Suriname and Taiwan."

--------------
Dollar Diplomacy or Long-Term Commitments?
--------------


3. (U) What the campaign fostered best, however, may have
been greed. In the weeks after the offer and the GOS's hasty
refusal, heated debate o6QFBzksAdo the same. Minister of Planning and
Development Cooperation Ricardo van Ravenswaay, however,
zy Nor can it be said the GOS is more in line with

PARAMARIBO 00000297 002.2 OF 002


communist China than the democratic GOT, particularly since
there is widespread anti-Chinese sentiment in the public and
the press in Suriname (septel),largely due to a perception
of favoritism in the granting of residency, business, and
other permits. So, standing up for its long time alliance
with the GOC rather than caving in at the first sign of cash
could be seen as a breath of fresh air from the GOS, whose
foreign policy,s first principle often seems to be
opportunism. However, caution is also an important principle
for the delicately-balanced, multi-party government, and
changing horses in mid-stream is dangerous. With all the
assistance Suriname is already receiving from China, it is
very unlikely the Venetiaan-Sardjoe administration will
change its mind and turn on one of its biggest donors. What
subsequent administrations will do remains to be seen: and
van Ravenswaay,s comments may be a shot across the bow. END
COMMENT
SCHREIBER HUGHES