TAIWAN: PREMIER URGES REPATRIATION OF REBAR GROUP

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 TAIPEI 000153 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE PASS USTR STATE FOR EAP/TC, USTR FOR STRATFORD AND ALTBACH TREASURY FOR OASIA/LMOGHTADER E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/12/2010 TAGS: PREL EFIN CJAN TW SUBJECT: TAIWAN: PREMIER URGES REPATRIATION OF REBAR GROUP EMBEZZLER REF: A. TAIPEI 63 ¶B. TAIPEI 49 ¶C. 05 TAIPEI 4423 Classified By: AIT DIRECTOR STEPHEN M. YOUNG FOR REASONS 1.5 (b),(c) ¶1. (C) Summary: During a January 18 meeting with the Director, Premier Su Tseng-chang formally asked the U.S. for immediate assistance to control the movements of and to repatriate Rebar Group founder Wang You-theng, an alleged embezzler, to face justice in Taiwan. On the defense budget, Su explained that though opposition parties are holding Taiwan's budget, including the defense portion, hostage to political interests, his cabinet remains committed to smooth passage of the budget and increased defense spending. The government will force an extended legislative session if required. The Director urged Su not to let debate over constitutional reform spill over into sensitive sovereignty issues that could damage cross-Strait stability. The Premier responded by emphasizing the need for structural rather than sovereignty reforms. Su hinted that he may stay on as Premier even as he seeks the DPP nomination for the Presidential election in 2008. End Summary. ¶2. (U) AIT Director Young called on Premier Su Tseng-chang on January 18; Su was accompanied by an interpreter and one aide. The Director was accompanied by Deputy Director Wang and AIT ECON Chief. Taiwan Asks U.S. to Send Wang You-theng Back -------------- ¶3. (C) Su made a personal and impassioned plea for the USG to send the founder of the collapsed China Rebar Pacific Group, Wang You-theng, back to Taiwan to face justice (reftels A & B). He emphasized this is the first time he's made such a request to the Director and has only done so because of the importance of this matter for Taiwan. He understands that there is already communication between Taiwan's Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau (MJIB) and the U.S. Justice Department as provided in the Mutual Legal Assistance Agreement (MLAA). However, Su said that he wants to underscore the highest priority his government places on this case. The Premier noted that Wang does not have U.S. citizenship and that his Taiwan passport had been canceled and is therefore not valid for any kind of international travel. Su stressed that Wang's flamboyant actions to spirit enormous sums of embezzled funds out of Taiwan and establish hideaways in both China and the U.S. makes his transgressions particularly pernicious in the eyes of Taiwan's public, on whose behalf he was making this plea. Emphasizing that it is not just the scope of the looting and money laundering but also Wang's brazenly flaunting his escape from Taiwan (he has been captured on televised videos at swank Shanghai hotels and night clubs) that makes his crimes so odious. Su faulted China for refusing to take resolute action by sending Wang back to Taiwan, instead passing the buck by letting him slip away to the U.S. He asked that the U.S. not allow Wang to play the same trick and flee to yet another country. Su pledged that Wang would receive a fair and open trial in Taiwan. He also told us he will make no public statements concerning this request as we deliberate our response. ¶4. (C) Su was clearly highly personally motivated by the Wang case and discussed it at length. There can be no doubt that it is the absolute top priority on his mind, not just as the Premier, but also as a citizen of Taiwan. He has a full grasp of the details of the case; when the Director noted that Wang's wife is apparently a U.S. citizen, Su quickly responded he is aware of that fact and noting she is not the person of concern. Wang You-theng, however, he said, is not a U.S. citizen; he is a citizen of Taiwan and was traveling TAIPEI 00000153 002 OF 003 on a Taiwan passport which has been canceled. Taiwan's focus is squarely on Wang You-theng and Su firmly believes he has a solid case meriting Wang's forced repatriation. The Rebar case continues to expand here with daily reports of investigations into new firms and people. Su expressed grave concern that the problem may deepen, undermining public confidence in the government, if Wang is not returned in the very near future. Washington Views -------------- ¶5. (C) Based on his recent consultations in Washington, the Director told Su Iraq policy is the number one foreign policy priority in Washington and outlined the serious nature of the policy options in Iraq, highlighting U.S. recognition of the importance of stabilizing the situation in Iraq. The Director noted that the U.S.-China relationship also ranks high on the foreign policy agenda, particularly given the major focus on gaining Beijing's support for U.S. efforts to resolve the North Korean nuclear problem. Taiwan naturally plays an important role as the U.S. seeks ways to support Taiwan and maintain stability across the Taiwan Straits. He described U.S.-Taiwan and cross-Strait relations as stable while noting Taiwan is a great example of political development to China and people around the world. Defense Budget -------------- ¶6. (C) The Director noted he had recently met with Ma Ying-jeou, chairman of the opposition Kuomintang Party (KMT), and understood the defense budget may not pass in the current Legislative Yuan (LY) session now scheduled to conclude January 19. Ma had said that a dispute over the composition of the Central Election Commission was threatening passage of the general budget, including the defense portion, and he needed to work closely with the LY Caucus to resolve this issue. Su referred to Ma as "being the Teflon Man" and thus prone to vacillate on controversial issues like this. He said Ma is simply not willing to make decisions and that the root cause of the continued deadlock over the budget is entirely political. The KMT is pushing to gain control over appointments to the Central Election Commission. Su said the KMT is following the same pattern as it did for securing appointment power for the National Communications Commission (NCC) (see ref C). ¶7. (C) Despite the political machinations, Su said the DPP and his government remain fully committed to the budget and continue to work toward smooth passage of the budget, including the defense portion. The DPP will immediately call for an extended session to deal with the budget should it not pass on January 19. He explained that one third of the LY can call for an extended session. Su said Ma and the KMT should carefully weigh the issues because if they continue to oppose the budget, it would be the first time Taiwan has not had a budget prior to the Lunar New Year holiday. Su emphasized the KMT opposition has little to do with the merits of the defense budget or budgets for other sectors; it is about political power. The Director made clear the importance to the U.S. of passing the defense budget, and then following up in the spring with a supplemental budget to cover PAC-III and raise overall defense spending to 2.85% of GDP. Su reaffirmed his commitment to these goals. Constitutional Reform -------------- ¶8. (C) The Director said President Chen Shui-bian's trip to Nicaragua highlighted the pressure China has been increasingly applying to try to contest Taiwan's shrinking TAIPEI 00000153 003 OF 003 international space. Due to China's actions in international arenas, the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has come under great pressure from some Party members to undertake Constitutional reform. The Director urged Su not to let debate over the reforms spill over and affect the stability of cross-Strait relations. He said it could be very risky if President Chen were to be seen as pushing the party debate in redline directions such as the idea of a Second Republic or definitions of territory. Debate over whether Taiwan should have a presidential vs. a parliamentary structure is not an issue for the U.S. Finally, he noted that in his recent meeting, President Chen reiterated his commitment to the 'Four Noes' policy. ¶9. (c) While not categorically promising anything, Su explained that the main thrust of the internal party process is to debate the type of political system Taiwan should have, and seek ways to improve governance. He focused his response on the governmental structure, notably not raising territorial or other redline issues. However, Su did say there is a great deal of interest within the DPP on debating Constitutional reform and that it would be impossible to limit debate. In any case, he said the hurdle is set so high in the LY for constitutional reform it is impossible that anything could be passed without full support of the body. Su added that President Chen returned from the Nicaragua trip pleased with the smooth transit arrangements with the United State. Su to Remain in Office? -------------- ¶10. (C) Asked about the DPP selection process and timing for its presidential candidate, Su emphasized that the successful candidate must be acceptable to all parts of the Party, deep, medium and light green. Su said the selection will probably be in late May. While not revealing his own plans, Su observed that Chen had run for President in 2000 while holding the position of DPP Chairman and said there is no Party rule against a candidate holding positions of responsibility while running for office. He said it will be up to each individual to decide if they want to hold a position while running or not. Foundation for Scholarly Exchange -------------- ¶11. (U) The Director explained continuing issues related to office space for the FSE and the Premier promised to look into the issue with the Ministry of Education. COMMENT -------------- ¶12. (C) There is no doubt a fair element of politics in Su's request for Wang You-theng to be repatriated to Taiwan, given the enormous pressure public indignation is generating on the government to bring Wang to justice. Su politely but unmistakably couched this as a test of American cooperation on what is back here a sensational national criminal case. While sending Wang back here to face justice is the ultimate goal, preventing him in the short-term from fleeing to a third country is an immediate challenge. We appreciate the Department's efforts to take resolute steps to explore what we can do just as quickly as possible. End Comment. YOUNG