Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07TAIPEI2596
2007-12-12 00:02:00
CONFIDENTIAL
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Cable title:
CONGRESSMAN FALEOMAVAEGA'S DECEMBER 7 MEETINGS
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TAIPEI 002596
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE ALSO FOR EAP/TC
USTR FOR STRATFORD AND KATZ
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/06/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON ETRD SENV TW
SUBJECT: CONGRESSMAN FALEOMAVAEGA'S DECEMBER 7 MEETINGS
WITH MA YING-JEOU AND PREMIER CHANG
REF: TAIPEI 2578
TAIPEI 00002596 001.2 OF 002
Classified By: Stephen M. Young, AIT Director, for reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TAIPEI 002596
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE ALSO FOR EAP/TC
USTR FOR STRATFORD AND KATZ
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/06/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON ETRD SENV TW
SUBJECT: CONGRESSMAN FALEOMAVAEGA'S DECEMBER 7 MEETINGS
WITH MA YING-JEOU AND PREMIER CHANG
REF: TAIPEI 2578
TAIPEI 00002596 001.2 OF 002
Classified By: Stephen M. Young, AIT Director, for reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d).
1. (C) SUMMARY and INTRODUCTION. In separate December 7
meetings with Taiwan's Premier Chang Chun-hsiung and KMT
presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou, Congressman Eni F.H.
Faleomavaega (D - American Samoa),Chairman of the
Asia-Pacific Subcommittee of the Foreign Affairs Committee,
stressed U.S. interest in cross-Strait issues and reiterated
that the U.S. would work with whomever Taiwan's voters chose
as their new president next March. He discussed climate
change with the Premier and lamented that the U.S. had not
signed the Kyoto Protocol. In a separate meeting, KMT
Presidential Candidate Ma told the Congressman that U.S.
public comments on the UN referendum issue had significantly
dampened support for the measures and that neither the DPP
nor the KMT-sponsored measure was likely to pass. The
Congressman also met with President Chen Shui-bian (reftel).
End Summary.
Premier Chang Chun-hsiung
--------------
2. (C) In his courtesy call on Premier Chang Chun-hsiung,
Congressman Faleomavaega reiterated the U.S. interest in
cross-Strait issues and praised Taiwan's strong democracy and
excellent bilateral trading relationship with the U.S. He
said that whomever Taiwan chooses as its next president, the
U.S. looks forward to working with him.
3. (C) Commenting on environmental issues, the Congressman
noted that he had just come from Bali where he participated
in the opening session of the UN Framework Conference on
Climate Change. He said that it was unfortunate that the
U.S. had not signed the Kyoto Protocol. Although
acknowledging that there are some deficiencies in the text,
he said that the U.S. refusal to sign the agreement puts the
U.S. "way behind" in negotiating any changes to the
agreement. "If you are not at the table, then you are on the
menu," said Faleomavaega. We've been on the menu for the
past ten years on global warming, he concluded.
4. (C) Premier Chang stated that even though Taiwan is not a
signatory to the Kyoto Protocol, Taiwan is working to control
CO2 emissions and trying to reach a balance between
maintaining economic growth and controlling CO2 emissions.
5. (C) Turning to the overall bilateral relationship, the
Premier stated that he is confident that Taiwan and the U.S.
will maintain their good relations regardless of who Taiwan
elects as president next March. He stated, however, that the
two Taiwan political parties have different goals vis-a-vis
cross-Strait issues. He asserted that the DPP is committed
to maintaining the status quo, while the KMT has unification
with China as its ultimate goal. He stated that in order to
maintain the status quo it is very important for Taiwan to be
able to participate in international organizations. If
Taiwan continues to be marginalized, he said, it will
severely damage Taiwan and U.S. interests.
KMT Presidential Candidate Ma Ying-jeou
--------------
6. (C) At a breakfast meeting on December 7, KMT
presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou told Congressman
Faleomavaega that strong, clearly-worded U.S. opposition to
the DPP UN referendum has significantly reduced public
support for the measure. According to KMT polls from late
November, Ma continued, only 20 percent of those polled would
vote in favor of the DPP referendum, while only 16 percent
would support the KMT version which proposes UN membership
but necessarily under the name "Taiwan." Moreover, 36
TAIPEI 00002596 002.2 OF 002
percent of those polled said they planned to abstain from
voting on either measure. Neither measure is likely to pass,
Ma concluded, because voter apathy now exceeds voter interest
in both measures combined.
7. (U) The Congressman was accompanied by Staff Director
Lisa Williams and Staff Associate Vili Lei. The Codel
departed before it had an opportunity to clear this cable.
YOUNG
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE ALSO FOR EAP/TC
USTR FOR STRATFORD AND KATZ
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/06/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON ETRD SENV TW
SUBJECT: CONGRESSMAN FALEOMAVAEGA'S DECEMBER 7 MEETINGS
WITH MA YING-JEOU AND PREMIER CHANG
REF: TAIPEI 2578
TAIPEI 00002596 001.2 OF 002
Classified By: Stephen M. Young, AIT Director, for reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d).
1. (C) SUMMARY and INTRODUCTION. In separate December 7
meetings with Taiwan's Premier Chang Chun-hsiung and KMT
presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou, Congressman Eni F.H.
Faleomavaega (D - American Samoa),Chairman of the
Asia-Pacific Subcommittee of the Foreign Affairs Committee,
stressed U.S. interest in cross-Strait issues and reiterated
that the U.S. would work with whomever Taiwan's voters chose
as their new president next March. He discussed climate
change with the Premier and lamented that the U.S. had not
signed the Kyoto Protocol. In a separate meeting, KMT
Presidential Candidate Ma told the Congressman that U.S.
public comments on the UN referendum issue had significantly
dampened support for the measures and that neither the DPP
nor the KMT-sponsored measure was likely to pass. The
Congressman also met with President Chen Shui-bian (reftel).
End Summary.
Premier Chang Chun-hsiung
--------------
2. (C) In his courtesy call on Premier Chang Chun-hsiung,
Congressman Faleomavaega reiterated the U.S. interest in
cross-Strait issues and praised Taiwan's strong democracy and
excellent bilateral trading relationship with the U.S. He
said that whomever Taiwan chooses as its next president, the
U.S. looks forward to working with him.
3. (C) Commenting on environmental issues, the Congressman
noted that he had just come from Bali where he participated
in the opening session of the UN Framework Conference on
Climate Change. He said that it was unfortunate that the
U.S. had not signed the Kyoto Protocol. Although
acknowledging that there are some deficiencies in the text,
he said that the U.S. refusal to sign the agreement puts the
U.S. "way behind" in negotiating any changes to the
agreement. "If you are not at the table, then you are on the
menu," said Faleomavaega. We've been on the menu for the
past ten years on global warming, he concluded.
4. (C) Premier Chang stated that even though Taiwan is not a
signatory to the Kyoto Protocol, Taiwan is working to control
CO2 emissions and trying to reach a balance between
maintaining economic growth and controlling CO2 emissions.
5. (C) Turning to the overall bilateral relationship, the
Premier stated that he is confident that Taiwan and the U.S.
will maintain their good relations regardless of who Taiwan
elects as president next March. He stated, however, that the
two Taiwan political parties have different goals vis-a-vis
cross-Strait issues. He asserted that the DPP is committed
to maintaining the status quo, while the KMT has unification
with China as its ultimate goal. He stated that in order to
maintain the status quo it is very important for Taiwan to be
able to participate in international organizations. If
Taiwan continues to be marginalized, he said, it will
severely damage Taiwan and U.S. interests.
KMT Presidential Candidate Ma Ying-jeou
--------------
6. (C) At a breakfast meeting on December 7, KMT
presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou told Congressman
Faleomavaega that strong, clearly-worded U.S. opposition to
the DPP UN referendum has significantly reduced public
support for the measure. According to KMT polls from late
November, Ma continued, only 20 percent of those polled would
vote in favor of the DPP referendum, while only 16 percent
would support the KMT version which proposes UN membership
but necessarily under the name "Taiwan." Moreover, 36
TAIPEI 00002596 002.2 OF 002
percent of those polled said they planned to abstain from
voting on either measure. Neither measure is likely to pass,
Ma concluded, because voter apathy now exceeds voter interest
in both measures combined.
7. (U) The Congressman was accompanied by Staff Director
Lisa Williams and Staff Associate Vili Lei. The Codel
departed before it had an opportunity to clear this cable.
YOUNG