FOREIGN MINISTER HUANG ON LATIN AMERICA, AFRICA,

C O N F I D E N T I A L TAIPEI 000597

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

C O R R E C T E D C O P Y

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/15/2032
TAGS: PREL TW
SUBJECT: FOREIGN MINISTER HUANG ON LATIN AMERICA, AFRICA,
AND SOLOMON ISLANDS


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


1. (C) Summary: Taiwan Foreign Minister James Huang told
the Director on March 15 that Taiwan-Nicaragua ties remain
good four months into the presidency of Daniel Ortega. Huang
noted that Nicaraguan Foreign Minister Santos will be
traveling to Taipei sometime between March 26-28 to conclude
a bilateral five-year cooperation agreement that was
initiated during President Chen's visit to Managua in
January. Huang said Taiwan is quietly working to strengthen
its relations with African countries. He will be visiting
all of Taiwan's five African diplomatic allies in late April
or early May to lay the groundwork for the first
Taiwan-Africa summit to be held in Taipei later this year.
Huang reported he met recently with Australian Representative
Steve Waters to reiterate Taiwan's commitment to supporting
the RAMSI mission in the Solomon Islands. End Summary.


2. (C) Taiwan Foreign Minister James Huang (Chih-fang) told
the Director on March 15 that Taiwan-Nicaragua ties remain
good four months into the presidency of Daniel Ortega. Huang
noted that Nicaraguan Foreign Minister Santos will be
traveling to Taipei sometime between March 26-28 to conclude
a bilateral five-year cooperation agreement that was
initiated during President Chen's visit Managua in January.
Huang said that he signed the MOU with Santos on January 11
and their follow up meeting is to further discuss details of
the framework for future cooperation. Huang added that as
part of enhancing the Taiwan-Nicaraguan relationship Taiwan's
International Cooperation and Development Fund (ICDF) will be
sending a medical team to Nicaragua this month to provide
medical services to rural residents. Huang suggested that
Ortega continues to pursue a moderate political agenda in
part because former President Aleman and the Liberal Party
retain considerable influence within Nicaragua's legislature.



3. (C) Huang told the Director that Taiwan is also quietly
focusing on strengthening its relations with African
countries. He said he will be visiting all of Taiwan's five
diplomatic allies in late April or early May to lay the
groundwork for the first Taiwan-Africa summit to be held in
Taipei later this year. Huang explained that this is a major
part of Taipei's effort to establish a regular exchange
mechanism with its African allies paralleling similar
initiatives with its South Pacific and Latin American
partners. He noted that the event will be hosted in Taipei
to provide a "comfortable" environment for the African
leaders and their spouses.


4. (C) Finally, Huang told the Director that he met
recently with Australian Representative Steve Waters, who
conveyed appreciation for Taiwan Vice Foreign Minister
Catherine Chang's (Hsiao-yueh) recent trip to Canberra and
Honiara to discuss Taiwan's activities in the Solomon
Islands. Huang said Taiwan reiterated its commitment to
support the RAMSI mission and not to provide firearms
training to SI police or President Sogavare's bodyguards.


Comment
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5. (C) Huang has been a peripatetic Foreign Minister since
taking office in January of last year. Much of his energy is
focused on shoring up relations with countries that recognize
Taiwan and winning new allies in the face of Beijing's
continuing concerted drive to constrain Taiwan's
international space. We have no doubt Beijing is equally
hard at work in the opposite direction.
YOUNG