Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07TAIPEI1149
2007-05-22 10:02:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Cable title:  

TAIWAN DISMAYED OVER OIE RESOLUTION; SEES THIN

Tags:  PREL EAGR AORG CH TW 
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VZCZCXRO2550
OO RUEHCN RUEHGH
DE RUEHIN #1149 1421002
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 221002Z MAY 07
FM AIT TAIPEI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5347
INFO RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 0175
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 4516
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0214
RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA 0737
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0106
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 8793
RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON 1787
RUEHCN/AMCONSUL CHENGDU 1906
RUEHGZ/AMCONSUL GUANGZHOU 0274
RUEHHK/AMCONSUL HONG KONG 8069
RUEHGH/AMCONSUL SHANGHAI 1103
RUEHSH/AMCONSUL SHENYANG 5874
RHHMUNA/USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
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

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