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
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
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