TAIWAN FOREIGN VICE MINISTER ON SOLOMON ISLANDS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TAIPEI 000326 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/09/2032 TAGS: PREL TW SUBJECT: TAIWAN FOREIGN VICE MINISTER ON SOLOMON ISLANDS Classified By: AIT Deputy Director Robert S. Wang, Reason 1.4 (b/d) ¶1. (C REL AUS) Summary: Taiwan Vice Foreign Minister Chang Siao-yue met with the Deputy Director on February 8 to discuss her recent trip to Australia and the Solomon Islands. She characterized Australian concerns about Taiwan's law enforcement training program with the SI as a "misunderstanding," and insisted Taiwan has no intention of undermining or replacing Australian-led RAMSI forces. Chang said that she had told the Australian government that Taipei also has no plans to provide weapons training or weapons to the SI police. Stressing that Taiwan's initiative has been "above board" and transparent, Chang urged that Taipei, Canberra, and Honiara should improve communication to avoid making a "costly" diplomatic mistake that could lead to the collapse of RAMSI and give the PRC an opportunity to fill the vacuum left by Australia. End Summary. ¶2. (C REL AUS) Taiwan Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Chang Siao-yue met with the Deputy Director on February 8 to discuss her recent trip to Australia and the Solomon Islands (SI). Chang said she had a "good," frank discussion in Brisbane with DFAT North Asia Director-General Peter Baxter about Taiwan's law enforcement training program with the SI. She said she emphasized that concerns about Taiwan's assistance to the SI arise from "misunderstanding" and "miscommunication." Chang stressed to the Deputy Director that Taiwan has no intention of replacing or undermining the Australian-led Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI) and will not provide weapons to SI police forces. Although maintaining formal diplomatic ties with the SI is very important to Taiwan, she added, Taipei will honor its pledge not to provide weapons or weapons training to SI police even if, she stressed, Honiara threatened to switch relations to the PRC. ¶3. (C REL AUS) Chang told the Deputy Director that she conveyed a similar message to Prime Minister Sogavare in Honiara. Sogavare, she said, was visibly disappointed, initially threatening to break relations with Taiwan. Chang explained to Sogavare that Taipei does its best to promote economic development, humanitarian assistance, and other aid to the SI, but Taiwan seeks to do so transparently and faces limitations imposed by the international community on what it 
can do. Chang reassured Sogavare that Taiwan would continue law enforcement training for SI police officers, pointing out that the canceled weapons training segment comprised only a small portion of the longer three week program. ¶4. (C REL AUS) Chang told the Deputy Director that despite Sogavare's initial disappointment and threats, she came away believing that Sogavare eventually "understood" Taiwan's position and that Taiwan will be able to maintain its relations with the SI for the time being. Chen emphasized that Taiwan's law enforcement training with the SI has been "above board" and transparent, and was part of a regional law enforcement training program with Taiwan's other South Pacific allies that was announced at the Pacific Allies Forum last year. This training, she explained, was focused on combating narcotics and human trafficking in the region. Chang added that Taiwan hopes to learn more about Australia's own training programs in the South Pacific in order to complement those efforts to bring greater stability to the region. ¶5. (C REL AUS) Assessing the overall situation in the SI, Chang suggested to the Deputy Director that the underlying problem is a lack of communication and trust between Honiara and Canberra. Chang said her discussions with Sogavare made clear that deep divisions have inhibited dialogue and undermined RAMSI's efforts to maintain peace in the SI. Sogavare believes, whether justified or not, that Australia is out to topple his government and to "get rid" of him, TAIPEI 00000326 002 OF 002 though she acknowledge that DG Baxter had strongly denied this. Addressing Sogavare's concerns about his personal safety, no matter how farfetched they may seem to outsiders, Chang stressed, will be important to repairing strained relations between the two capitals. ¶6. (C REL AUS) Although trust between the SI and Australia is unlikely to be restored in the near future, Chang said renewed dialogue between the two sides is a first, necessary step. Chang emphasized this point in her meetings with both Australian officials and Sogavare, urging the two governments to engage in positive talks that address Sogavare's concerns about RAMSI. Chang added that Taiwan for its part also needs to work on improving communication with Australia. She criticized the Taiwan Ambassador in Honaira for failing to develop constructive working relations with his Australian counterpart there. The Taiwan Ambassador, she explained, was very bitter that RAMSI police had failed to protect Taiwan's medical mission and technicians in Honaira during riots last year. Nevertheless, Chang said she had instructed the Ambassador to reach out to the Australian High Commissioner to discuss Taiwan's ongoing humanitarian and law enforcement training programs, and she acknowledged that DG Baxter had pledged that RAMSI would work to ensure security in the SI, including for Taiwan. ¶7. (C REL AUS) Chang told the Deputy Director that Taiwan had been surprised by the strong Australian objection to its law enforcement training initiative with the SI. Chang said that as "friends" she hopes similar concerns in the future can be raised at a working level before being aired publicly. Taiwan disagrees with Australia's characterization of its work in the region as "checkbook diplomacy," Chang said, pointing out that Taiwan assistance programs and activities in the SI have been both developmentally positive and diplomatically open and transparent. Taipei, Canberra, and Honiara need to work in a cooperative manner in the future to avoid making "costly" diplomatic mistakes. Elaborating, Chang suggested that if friction between Australia and the SI leads to a collapse of RAMSI, Taiwan does not have the inclination or ability to step in, leaving the PRC the opportunity to do so. If Sogavare's frustrations with Canberra are not addressed, moreover, he could easily turn to Fiji, PNG, or even the PRC to seek the weapons training and equipment that Taiwan is not providing. YOUNG