CONGRESSMAN FALEOMAVAEGA'S MEETINGS WITH TAIWAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 TAIPEI 001867

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

H PLEASE PASS TO CONGRESSMAN FALEOMAVAEGA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/15/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV TW
SUBJECT: CONGRESSMAN FALEOMAVAEGA'S MEETINGS WITH TAIWAN
LEADERS


Classified By: AIT Director Stephen M. Young, Reason 1.4 (b/d)


1. (C) Summary: In meetings with Taiwan leaders during his
August 11-14 visit, Congressman Eni Faleomavaega voiced
strong U.S. support for Taiwan's democracy, but also
expressed U.S. concerns about maintaining stability in the
region. The Congressman encouraged President Chen to improve
relations with China in order to preserve peace across the
Strait and minimize the potential for a military
confrontation between Beijing and Washington over Taiwan.
President Chen underscored his continued support for the UN
Referendum, arguing that it reflects the "voice of the Taiwan
people." Pursuing a referendum is a democratic way to resist
incessant PRC pressure on Taiwan, Chen argued, and the
referendum falls short of crossing a "red line" on
independence, which he claimed the U.S. has shifted over
time. The Congressman informed President Chen that he plans
to call for a HFAC subcommittee hearing to review the Taiwan
Relations Act and other Taiwan-related issues sometime in
September or October. The Congressman conveyed similar
points in his meetings with Vice President Lu, Premier Chang,
Foreign Minister Huang, and KMT presidential candidate Ma
Ying-jeou. End Summary.

President Chen on the UN Referendum and US "Red Lines"
-------------- --------------


2. (C) Congressman Eni Faleomavaega (D-American Samoa)
voiced strong U.S. support for Taiwan's democracy during
meetings with Taiwan leaders August 11-14, but also expressed
U.S. concerns about maintaining stability in the region. In
a meeting with President Chen Shui-bian on August 13, the
Congressman encouraged Taiwan to develop better relations
with China in order to preserve peace across the Strait and
minimize the potential for a military confrontation between
Beijing and Washington over Taiwan. The Congressman informed
President Chen that he plans to call for an HFAC subcommittee
hearing to review the Taiwan Relations Act and other
Taiwan-related issues sometime in September or October.


3. (C) President Chen thanked the Congressman and the U.S.
Congress for their long-term support for Taiwan and its
democratization, but argued that the democracy now enjoyed by
the 23 million people of Taiwan should not be "limited or
restricted." President Chen stressed his continued support
for the UN Referendum, arguing that it reflects the "voice of
the Taiwan people" and not merely his personal will. Chen
said the pursuit of a referendum is a democratic way to
resist incessant PRC pressure on Taiwan and falls short of
crossing a "red line" on independence, which he claimed the
U.S. has shifted over time. The UN Referendum is Taiwan's
way to "say no" to Beijing's assertion that the PRC
represents Taiwan and has sovereignty over the island. Chen
emphasized that Taiwan is not seeking to change the status
quo or the nation's title, pointing out that even the U.S.
calls Taiwan "Taiwan" and not the "Republic of China" as
evidenced by the "Taiwan Relations Act." In any case, the
PRC is opposed to both names. Noting that he will be
traveling to the Marshall Islands to attend the Second Annual
Taiwan-Pacific Allies Summit from October 12-14, President
Chen invited the Congressman to attend the proceedings.

Foreign Minister Huang on Cross-Strait Tensions
-------------- --


4. (C) Meeting with Foreign Minister James Huang
(Chih-fang) on August 13, Congressman Faleomavaega
underscored the strong Congressional support for Taiwan,
citing the recent passage of Resolution 136 that calls for
lifting U.S. travel bans imposed on Taiwan's elected leaders
as an example. The Congressman noted that in earlier
meetings with Chinese officials he had cautioned them not to
"overreact" to political developments on Taiwan and had urged
them to actively engage Taipei to seek a suitable role for
Taiwan in the international community. The Congressman urged
Taiwan to work with its diplomatic partners in the South
Pacific to coordinate efforts to establish a regional

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fisheries program, noting that Taiwan's edge in fishing
technology could help boost the island nations' economies and
expand trade with American Samoa.


5. (C) Foreign Minister Huang thanked the Congressman for
supporting Resolution 136, emphasizing that it is a welcome
sign to Taiwan as it faces an "uphill battle" against a China
that is making every effort to isolate Taiwan
internationally. Huang said that Taiwan risks "disappearing"
if it follows the rules set by Beijing. President Chen's
recent moves on the UN issue are a response to the "will of
the people" and are not intended to provoke China, "make any
trouble," or raise tensions across the Taiwan Strait. Taiwan
is willing to engage Beijing in political discussions without
any preconditions, but Huang asserted that Beijing's
insistence on acceptance of the one-China principle has
dimmed prospects for substantive talks. Huang maintained
that cross-Strait tensions are still far from a point where
the use of force could be considered by either side.
According to Huang, President Chen is a "sensible" politician
and a "simple man" who knows what is good for the country yet
understands the "external constraints" imposed upon him.

Premier Chang On Cross-Strait Relations
--------------


6. (C) In a meeting with Premier Chang Chun-hsiung on
August 13, Congressman Faleomavaega said that, despite
Beijing's urging him not to participate in the Democratic
Pacific Union's Second Annual Session, he had come to Taiwan
in hopes of building bridges between the U.S. and Pacific
countries. Premier Chang thanked the Congressman for his
visit, noting that Congress has historically staunchly
supported Taiwan and its democratic development. Chang
expressed his wish to see continued peace in East Asia, but
said that Beijing maintains an aggressive attitude toward
Taiwan, building up missile forces and stepping up efforts to
undermine Taiwan internationally. Chang said he hoped the
two sides could engage in a constructive dialogue on an equal
footing to reduce tensions and misunderstandings. He also
said that Taiwan needs to keep communications open to the
U.S., especially during an election year, in order to avoid
unnecessary misunderstandings and suggested establishing a
mechanism to hold direct high-level talks.

Vice President Lu Dinner
--------------


7. (C) Vice President Annette Lu (Hsiu-lien) told
Congressman Faleomavaega during a dinner on August 12 that
the people of Taiwan are frustrated by their lack of a voice
in the international community, which has excluded them from
international organizations such as the UN. Although the
tactics employed by President Chen to push Taiwan's entry
into the UN may be controversial and not well thought out, Lu
pointed out that the goal of UN representation nevertheless
reflects the will of Taiwan's 23 million people. She thanked
Congress for its past support of Taiwan's democratization and
asked that it lend equal support to Taiwan's UN entry. Lu
repeatedly raised the issue of China's response to the UN
proposal, arguing that Beijing would not be willing to use
force over the issue and is not prepared to attack Taiwan.

COA Meeting on Fisheries Issues
--------------


8. (C) In a meeting with the Deputy Minister of the Council
of Agriculture (COA) Lee Jen-chyuan, Congressman Faleomavaega
emphasized the importance of tuna fishing for the economy of
South Pacific islands and urged COA to support a joint
venture between FCF Fishing Co., one of the world's largest
commercial fishing companies based in Kaohsiung, and a US
consortium. The venture would be of mutual benefit to the
fishing industries of both Taiwan and islands in the region.
The Congressman noted that five months ago in Washington he
hosted the heads of state of the six South Pacific island
nations that recognize Taiwan and that he has urged Taiwan to

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take the lead in coordinating international recognition of
exclusive fishing rights for these six nations within their
respective exclusive economic zones.


9. (C) Deputy Minister Lee praised the close bilateral
cooperation on fishing issues, and expressed appreciation for
U.S. assistance in restoring Taiwan's full 14,900 ton quota
under the International Commission for Conservation of
Atlantic Tuna. Lee said that Taiwan values its ties with the
six Pacific Island nations and is implementing a series of
seminars and workshops to help them further develop their
agriculture and fishing industries. Lee requested U.S.
assistance in ensuring Taiwan receives "equal treatment" in
international fisheries organizations, such as ICCAT, of
which Taiwan is a cooperating non-member. Fisheries Agency
Deputy Director James Sha (Chung-yi) told the Congressman
that with the expiration on July 31 of the MOU between AIT
and TECRO on fisheries cooperation Taiwan has submitted its
comments on the Joint Work Plan, but has not received a reply
from the U.S. The Congressman told Sha he would look into
the matter upon his return to Washington.

Ma Ying-jeou Offers Presidential Tour d'Horizon
-------------- --


10. (C) Over a working breakfast on August 14, KMT
presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou told Congressman
Faleomavaega that he wants to establish a "modus vivendi" for
negotiating with Beijing. This would require acknowledging
there is only one China, he said, though he explained that he
"will define one China differently than Beijing" and stressed
that he does not support unification in the foreseeable
future. On that basis, Ma said, he would move quickly to
implement the "three links" by pushing for early negotiations
on both cross-Strait charter flights and PRC tourists
visiting Taiwan. A major goal of his negotiating with the
PRC, he explained, would be to increase Taiwan's
international space, noting Taiwan would also need U.S. help
in this effort. Ma told the Congressman that a KMT
government under his leadership would emphasize stability and
good relations with the U.S., the PRC, as well as Japan. His
approach would be non-confrontational in place of President
Chen's combativeness and surprises. (Comment: Congressman
Faleomavaega's meeting with Ma Ying-jeou was noteworthy
because the Taipei District Court was scheduled to announce
its decision on Ma's corruption trial just two hours later.
Despite the intense pressure on Ma, he appeared relaxed and
wholly focused on the meeting with the Congressman. End
Comment.)


11. (C) Congressman Faleomavaega stressed to Ma that the
U.S. does not want to see an increase in cross-Strait
tensions or a repeat of the confrontation that occurred in
1995-96. The U.S., he emphasized, does not want to send
troops into the Taiwan Strait area. Noting Taiwan's
prominence in the international fisheries industry and his
own visit to Kaohsiung's FCF Fishery, which has one of the
largest tuna fleets in the world, the Congressman urged
greater U.S.-Taiwan cooperation on tuna fishing and his hope
that the Taiwan fishery and American Samoa canning industries
would increase their commercial ties.


12. (U) Congressman Faleomavaega did not have the
opportunity to clear this cable before his departure from
Taipei.
YOUNG