Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07TAIPEI17
2007-01-04 08:50:00
SECRET
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Cable title:
MTAG: TAIWAN BOFT ON SEIZED LATHES
how-toVZCZCXRO8634 OO RUEHGH DE RUEHIN #0017 0040850 ZNY SSSSS ZZH O 040850Z JAN 07 FM AIT TAIPEI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3603 INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 6146 RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN PRIORITY 0157 RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 4398 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 0184 RUEHGP/AMEMBASSY SINGAPORE PRIORITY 6731 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 8333 RUEHGZ/AMCONSUL GUANGZHOU PRIORITY 9849 RUEHHK/AMCONSUL HONG KONG PRIORITY 7377 RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE PRIORITY 0409 RUEHGH/AMCONSUL SHANGHAI PRIORITY 0665 RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHMFISS/HQ BICE WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
S E C R E T TAIPEI 000017
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/TC AND ISN/MTR
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/06/2027
TAGS: ETTC PARM KNNP NK TW SN
SUBJECT: MTAG: TAIWAN BOFT ON SEIZED LATHES
REF: A. 06 STATE 204021
B. STATE 257
C. SINGAPORE 27
Classified By: AIT Econ Chief Daniel K. Moore, 1.4 B/C
S E C R E T TAIPEI 000017
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/TC AND ISN/MTR
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/06/2027
TAGS: ETTC PARM KNNP NK TW SN
SUBJECT: MTAG: TAIWAN BOFT ON SEIZED LATHES
REF: A. 06 STATE 204021
B. STATE 257
C. SINGAPORE 27
Classified By: AIT Econ Chief Daniel K. Moore, 1.4 B/C
1. (S) AIT Econ delivered ref A demarche to Bureau of
Foreign Trade (BOFT) Export Control Task Force Chief Wally Su
(Shi-hwa) on January 3 and urged full investigation of the
case. Su was confident that his staff could uncover
significant new information on the case within a few days.
In response to ref B proposal on dates for EXBS training, Su
suggested that March 6-8 would be more practical. End
summary.
Precision Lathes seized in Singapore
--------------
2. (S) Su was already familiar with the case described in
ref A demarche (i.e., precision lathes exported by Trans
Merits subsequently seized by Singapore officials at U.S.
request). He said that Taiwan's National Security Bureau
(NSB) had asked him to begin investigating this case in late
December, but had not provided him with detailed or accurate
information, and so he could only assume it was the shipment
from Trans Merits based on corresponding details in the
export declaration.
BOFT will conduct own investigation
--------------
3. (S) Su was pleased with the level of detail in our
demarche and expressed confidence that BOFT personnel could
use these details to find out considerable further
information about the shipment and specifications of the
machines without alerting Trans Merits to the investigation.
He recommended against an AIT approach to the Ministry of
Justice Investigation Bureau (MJIB) at this time. He
questioned whether MJIB wire taps or other surveillance
methods would uncover any useful information. He said he
suspected that the players involved were smart enough to
conduct business discussions outside of Taiwan and to avoid
obvious illegality. However, he thought that BOFT could use
its bureaucratic powers to coerce Trans Merits executives
into providing information on the transaction.
4. (S) Note: We read Su's reluctance to request assistance
in investigating this case as an indication of BOFT
frustration in trying to work with the MJIB. However, Su
again noted that both Customs and companies are paying more
attention to export control issues. Su also noted that
Taiwan authorities have not been contacted by either
Singapore officials or Trans Merits regarding this case. End
note.
Dates for EXBS training
--------------
5. (SBU) Su noted that ref B proposed dates for training are
during the lunar new year celebrations, and therefore not
practical. He proposed the training instead be held March
6-8. He also questioned why the second course in the agreed
training schedule (Targeting and Risk Management) was skipped
without explanation.
WANG
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/TC AND ISN/MTR
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/06/2027
TAGS: ETTC PARM KNNP NK TW SN
SUBJECT: MTAG: TAIWAN BOFT ON SEIZED LATHES
REF: A. 06 STATE 204021
B. STATE 257
C. SINGAPORE 27
Classified By: AIT Econ Chief Daniel K. Moore, 1.4 B/C
1. (S) AIT Econ delivered ref A demarche to Bureau of
Foreign Trade (BOFT) Export Control Task Force Chief Wally Su
(Shi-hwa) on January 3 and urged full investigation of the
case. Su was confident that his staff could uncover
significant new information on the case within a few days.
In response to ref B proposal on dates for EXBS training, Su
suggested that March 6-8 would be more practical. End
summary.
Precision Lathes seized in Singapore
--------------
2. (S) Su was already familiar with the case described in
ref A demarche (i.e., precision lathes exported by Trans
Merits subsequently seized by Singapore officials at U.S.
request). He said that Taiwan's National Security Bureau
(NSB) had asked him to begin investigating this case in late
December, but had not provided him with detailed or accurate
information, and so he could only assume it was the shipment
from Trans Merits based on corresponding details in the
export declaration.
BOFT will conduct own investigation
--------------
3. (S) Su was pleased with the level of detail in our
demarche and expressed confidence that BOFT personnel could
use these details to find out considerable further
information about the shipment and specifications of the
machines without alerting Trans Merits to the investigation.
He recommended against an AIT approach to the Ministry of
Justice Investigation Bureau (MJIB) at this time. He
questioned whether MJIB wire taps or other surveillance
methods would uncover any useful information. He said he
suspected that the players involved were smart enough to
conduct business discussions outside of Taiwan and to avoid
obvious illegality. However, he thought that BOFT could use
its bureaucratic powers to coerce Trans Merits executives
into providing information on the transaction.
4. (S) Note: We read Su's reluctance to request assistance
in investigating this case as an indication of BOFT
frustration in trying to work with the MJIB. However, Su
again noted that both Customs and companies are paying more
attention to export control issues. Su also noted that
Taiwan authorities have not been contacted by either
Singapore officials or Trans Merits regarding this case. End
note.
Dates for EXBS training
--------------
5. (SBU) Su noted that ref B proposed dates for training are
during the lunar new year celebrations, and therefore not
practical. He proposed the training instead be held March
6-8. He also questioned why the second course in the agreed
training schedule (Targeting and Risk Management) was skipped
without explanation.
WANG