TAIWAN DISMAYED OVER OIE RESOLUTION; SEES THIN

UNCLAS TAIPEI 001149 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS EMBASSY PARIS PLEASE PASS TO OIE DELEGATION E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL EAGR AORG CH TW SUBJECT: TAIWAN DISMAYED OVER OIE RESOLUTION; SEES THIN EDGE OF A WEDGE REF: A. STATE 67444 ¶B. DAS CHRISTENSEN MAY 21 E-MAIL TO AIT DIRECTOR ¶1. (SBU) Taiwan MOFA International Organizations (IO) Director-General David Lin called in AIT Political Chief on May 22 to express Taiwan's dismay over the revised China-Taiwan resolution being circulated by World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) President Barry O'Neil. This resolution as revised would "seriously damage" Taiwan's rights and interests, Lin argued. It would, moreover, represent unprecedented politicization of OIE, with Beijing using the OIE as a tool to settle its cross-Strait dispute with Taiwan. Not even UN Resolution 2758, he said, had sought to force Taiwan under PRC sovereignty. ¶2. (SBU) Lin argued the OIE resolution has important implications for the future, charging that the PRC is seeking to use the OIE as a wedge to downgrade Taiwan participation in other international organizations. If the PRC is allowed to set a precedent in the OIE, a functional, working organization, he said, it will be difficult for Taiwan to stem the tide against PRC pressure in other organizations. Opposing PRC efforts in the OIE, thus, is a matter of principle for Taiwan, he said, and one on which Taiwan cannot affort to give ground. ¶3. (SBU) Lin told AIT that if the resolution passes, Taiwan would make a strong public statement condemning and rejecting the resolution. Taiwan would then consider taking subsequent unspecified "other actions." ¶4. (SBU) Expressing appreciation for U.S. concern and assistance, Lin urged the U.S. to continue its efforts to modify or postpone the proposed resolution. If the measure comes to vote in the OIE plenary session on May 25, he continued, Taiwan hopes the U.S. will publicly oppose the resolution and vote against it. ¶5. (SBU) AIT POL Chief promised to pass the information back to Washington and to our OIE delegation in Paris, but urged Taiwan to communicate directly with our team in Paris in this fast changing process. Comment -------------- ¶6. (SBU) It is clear that MOFA/Taiwan is very concerned about the PRC's proposed resolution at the OIE and is seeking U.S. and other OIE member support to block it. Less certain, however, is what "other actions" Taiwan might take in the event of passage. We urge U.S. Del in Paris to share as much as possible our thinking on countering this unhelpful PRC initiative. YOUNG