TAIWAN AWARE OF U.S. CONCERNS TOWARDS LIBYA

S E C R E T TAIPEI 000716 SIPDIS NOFORN SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/TC; EC/NP FOR CHRIS KESSLER E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/28/2012 TAGS: TSPA PREL ETTC ECON LY TW SUBJECT: TAIWAN AWARE OF U.S. CONCERNS TOWARDS LIBYA REF: A. TAIPEI 0239 ¶B. STATE 34004 Classified By: ECON CHIEF DANIEL K MOORE FOR REASONS 1.4 B/D ¶1. (S/NF) SUMMARY. AIT delivered ref B demarche on U.S. concerns about transfer of high-resolution satellite technology to Libya to National Space Program Office (NSPO) Director Lance Wu on 3/26. Wu Replied that Taiwan's satellite cooperation with Libya would be limited to low resolution technology and that Taiwan could provide useful inside information on Libya's space program. Wu said he would convey U.S. concerns to National Security Council (NSC) Secretary General Mark Chen and the Ministry of Foreign SIPDIS Affairs. END SUMMARY LIBYANS STILL AT BEGINNER'S STAGE -------------- ¶2. (S/NF) NSPO Director Wu said the Libyans wanted to buy technology directly from Taiwan to save money rather than buy imagery through the French SPOT company. Libya also has a ground receiving station which Taiwan had provided some assistance in setting up. TAIWAN CANNOT PROVIDE HIGH TECH EQUIPMENT -------------- ¶3. (S/NF) Wu emphasized that Taiwan only had expertise in the launch bus, not in instruments. He said Taiwan had helped Libya vet 500 plus scientists to select the best candidates for Libya's space program and that Taiwan was providing information on how to start a satellite program. Wu said Taiwan had limited its scope to commercially available 2.5 - meter resolution technology. MARK CHEN MOFA AND NSC BRIEFED; WHERE NEXT -------------- ¶4. (S/NF) Wu noted that he had discussed the Libyan proposal with NSC Secretary General Mark Chen, briefing him on the technical issues. Wu wanted an AIT counterpart to Chen in case Chen wanted to discuss this further. He also briefed MOFA and NSC during which he suggested that they obtain AIT's reaction to the Libyan proposal. Wu said that MOFA was very enthusiastic over the prospect of cooperation with Libya. Wu then suggested that Taiwan had detailed information on the Libyan scientists it had vetted and the United States could benefit from this information. AIT reiterated the need to continue consultations on this issue. Wu appeared to want a single point of contact at AIT regarding both intelligence and policy issues. We explained to him that AIT does not operate that way and that only policy issues could be dealt with by the ECON section. COMMENT -------------- ¶5. (S/NF) It is still not entirely clear if Wu is operating as a "lone ranger" by telling AIT of the Libyan proposal, but his claim of meeting with MOFA and NSC and briefing Mark Chen make it appear that his moves are sanctioned by the Taiwan authorities. END COMMENT WANG