DIRECTOR,S MEETING WITH NSC SECRETARY GENERAL

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 TAIPEI 002633

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/20/2032
TAGS: PGOV TW MASS
SUBJECT: DIRECTOR,S MEETING WITH NSC SECRETARY GENERAL
DISCUSSES NEW PRC CIVILIAN AIR ROUTE

REF: TAIPEI 2627

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

Summary
--------------

1. (S/NF) American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Director Stephen
Young met with National Security Council Secretary General
Mark Chen Tang-shan on 20 December 2007 to discuss the PRC's
proposed civilian air corridor in the Taiwan Strait. Also
present at the meeting was AIT Liaison Affairs Chief COL Tony
Chow and NSC Deputy Secretary General Joanne Chang Chao-lin.
Director Young requested Taiwan not politicize or publicize
air route issue and to consult with the U.S. before making
any possible response. SecGen Chen assured Director Young
Taiwan has no plan for military response and will first
consult with the U.S. if any such decision is being
contemplated in the future. End Summary.

PRC Proposed Civil Air Route
--------------

2. (S/NF) Director Young informed SecGen Chen that he met
with Minister of Defense Lee Tien-yu the previous day to
discuss the PRC proposed air route near the Taiwan Strait
Centerline and U.S. concerns of Taiwan and PRC
over-politicizing this issue (Reftel). Director Young
re-emphasized the same points with SecGen Chen that he
delivered to Minister Lee, to include U.S. efforts with the
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and other
partner nations, DAS Christensen's engagement with PRC
officials last week, requests to Taiwan not to politicize
this issue, and to consult with the U.S. prior to considering
any military response.


3. (S/NF) SecGen Chen said the air route proposal was first
brought to his attention by D/SecGen Chang when Hong Kong
Civil Aviation Department (CAD) contacted the Taiwan Civil
Aeronautics Administration (CAA). SecGen Chen said he wants
to manage this issue smoothly and to do everything possible
to prevent the establishment of this air route. He said
cross-strait stability is a concern for the U.S. and Taiwan,
that Taiwan wants to maintain the status quo, and Taiwan sees
this air route as breaking the status quo. SecGen Chen
commented the Centerline is a "pseudo-line" both sides of the
Strait need to respect. If neither side upholds this
Centerline, then there could be potential conflict, something
Taiwan does not want. Since the U.S. and Taiwan want
stability in the Strait, we need to resolve this air route
issue as soon as possible.


4. (S/NF) SecGen Chen noted the PRC had been scheduled to
publicly announce this new route on 6 December 2007 but since
such announcement has not been made, opined the PRC is
re-thinking this proposal due to U.S. efforts. (Note: Later
in the meeting, D/SecGen Chang said the 6 December 2007 date
was a Taiwan prediction based on the standard ICAO practice
of declaring 42 days ahead of implementation date, in this
case 17 January 2007. However, D/SecGen Chang said the PRC's
Civil Aviation Administration of China has added a notice of
this route on its website on 5 December 2007. End Comment).
SecGen Chen said he agrees with Director Young's concern
about publicizing and politicizing this issue and informed
Director Young that in an internal NSC meeting, it was
decided that it is not good to publicize this issue.


5. (S/NF) At one point during the meeting, D/SecGen Chang
said Taiwan has no representation in ICAO to speak against
this proposal. Chang went on to say that other international
organizations also make decisions affecting Taiwan without
first consulting with Taiwan. Chang produced the 14 December
2007 International Health Regulations Authorized Ports List,
published by the World Health Organization, to show how eight
Taiwan ports were listed under China. (Note: This appeared to
be Chang's way of laying out the case in justifying the
necessity for Taiwan to be a member of international
organizations such as the United Nations).

TAIPEI 00002633 002 OF 002




6. (S/NF) Director Young refocused the conversation to the
air route issue. He said this proposal may have been
initiated by the PLA as a way to further pressure Taiwan but
China may still be considering the pros and cons of moving
ahead. Director Young asked SecGen Chen to convey to
President Chen not to lock Beijing into any particular
position by publicizing this issue and making it more
difficult to resolve. There is danger that if both sides (in
this case KMT and DPP) turn the air route into a political
issue much like the UN referendum, Beijing may downplay the
more critical security implications.


7. (S/NF) Director Young asked SecGen Chen about the NSC
decision to make a military response based on an earlier
comment by NSC Senior Advisor York Chen. SecGen Chen said
this could be a misunderstanding. SenGen Chen emphasized
that this is a sensitive time and any discussion of military
action within Taiwan is not simple. He agreed that Taiwan
should consult the U.S. first. He assured Director Young
that if military actions were discussed, it did not come from
the NSC or President Chen.


8. (S/NF) SecGen Chen said he understands the U.S. has
presented the argument to the PRC and he hopes the PRC will
respond positively. However, if China should decide to go
forward with this new route, Taiwan will have to make
necessary adjustments to its military training areas. In the
meantime, SecGen Chen said he has discussed this subject with
visiting Japanese officials and said Japan shares Taiwan's
concerns.


9. (S/NF) At the conclusion of the meeting, Director Young
informed SecGen Chen that he has asked Minister Lee to
continue communications with AIT on this issue. The longer
Beijing thinks about this, the higher the likelihood for
positive results.

Comment
--------------

10. We are trying to temp down politicized discussion of this
sensitive issue, but since President Chen raised it on
December 7 with visiting Congressman Faleomavaega, it has
pretty much been open season in this highly charged election
run-up. Clearly Taiwan is hopeful the U.S. and other friends
can turn this off. If we cannot, it is likely to continue to
attract commentary designed to support Green campaigning
themes which focus on Beijing's nefarious intentions.
YOUNG