VICE PREMIER CHIOU I-JEN ON UN REFERENDUM AND PORK

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TAIPEI 002141 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/19/2017 TAGS: PREL PGOV EAGR ETRD TW SUBJECT: VICE PREMIER CHIOU I-JEN ON UN REFERENDUM AND PORK ISSUES Classified By: AIT Director Stephen M. Young, Reasons: 1.4 (b/d) ¶1. (C) Summary. AIT Director Young met with Vice Premier Chiou I-jen on September 19 to urge that Taiwan take further measures to avoid disruption of U.S. pork imports. The Director also delivered reftel points on U.S. position regarding Taiwan's UNGA activities and discussed the negative impact of Taiwan's ongoing UN referendum efforts on our bilateral relations. Chiou asserted that President Chen is committed to avoiding any further "surprises" for the remainder of his term and has opposed hard-line positions taken in the DPP "normal country" resolution deliberations. End summary. ¶2. (C) Regarding the pork issue, the Director emphasized the importance of avoiding a "fifth strike" or anything else that could result in the suspension of U.S. pork imports in the short term. He also urged Taiwan to establish an MRL for ractopamine as soon as possible, as previously promised. Vice Premier Chiou indicated that President Chen himself had discussed this issue with COA chairman Su Jia-chyuan this past Monday (Sept 17) and that Taiwan is developing a strategy to deal with this. He, however, did not offer any timeline for resolution of this issue. ¶3. (C) Regarding Taiwan's recent UNGA-related activities, the Director conveyed Washington's concerns about the travel of senior Taiwan authorities to New York and their attempted direct approach to U.S. officials at the UN. He emphasized that all communication should be made through AIT in Taipei and TECRO in Washington on these issues. He also indicated that the U.S. would like to limit discussion in the UN General Council to the longstanding "two-plus-two" formula. In response, Chiou suggested that Taiwan may be proposing a "five-plus-five" discussion instead. ¶4. (C) Expanding the discussion to Taiwan's ongoing UN referendum drive, the Director expressed continued U.S. opposition to this effort. He indicated that the "mood in Washington is not good" as a result of the recent controversy on this issue. The Director stressed that this sentiment was shared with him across the various agencies and the White House during his recent consultations in Washington. ¶5. (C) Vice Premier Chiou said that he understood that recent bilateral relations have been severely strained and said that the United States and Taiwan needed to find ways to mend relations. He indicated he is personally looking for possible solutions to this problem. Nonetheless, Chiou argued that the UN referendum effort is important on a number of fronts for President Chen and the DPP. Not only is this useful for mobilizing voters in the upcoming election, he said, but it is also a way for Taiwan to respond to increasing pressures from the PRC. Chiou said, however, that President Chen had promised "no more surprises" for the rest of his term in office and intends to keep his commitment. For example, President Chen has clearly indicated his opposition to DPP Chairman Yu Shyi-kun's hard-line positions related to the DPP's "normal country" resolution. He said that President Chen is maintaining his "reserve" and exercising "caution" in connection with these developments. Comment -------------- ¶6. (C) NSC Secretary-General Mark Chen called the Director this morning wondering when he would call on President Chen following his Washington consultations. This was also on Chiou's mind during today's discussion of the way forward. The Director carefully used this meeting to signal to the President through Chiou the severity of our current impasse on both political and trade issues and the need for creative thinking on Taiwan's part. Chiou made it clear that is precisely what he is trying to do, but within complex DPP politics. TAIPEI 00002141 002 OF 002 YOUNG