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.

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YOUNG