Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07TAIPEI716
2007-03-29 02:32:00
SECRET//NOFORN
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Cable title:
TAIWAN AWARE OF U.S. CONCERNS TOWARDS LIBYA
how-toVZCZCXRO8312 PP RUEHTRO DE RUEHIN #0716 0880232 ZNY SSSSS ZZH P 290232Z MAR 07 FM AIT TAIPEI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4661 INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 6539 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 8546 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 8598 RUEHTRO/AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI 0011 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC RHHMUNA/USPACOM HONOLULU HI RHHJJAA/JICPAC HONOLULU HI
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
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
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