TAO CHIEF TOUTS "FAMILY TIES" IN WELCOMING TAIWAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 003056 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/07/2033 TAGS: PGOV PREL KOLY CH TW SUBJECT: TAO CHIEF TOUTS "FAMILY TIES" IN WELCOMING TAIWAN POLITICOS TO OLYMPICS REF: TAIPEI 1147 Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Aubrey Carlson. Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). Taiwan Politicos in Beijing for the Olympics -------------- ¶1. (U) On August 5 PRC State Council Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) Director Wang Yi greeted Taiwan Kuomintang (KMT) Party Honorary Chair Lien Chan and wife upon arrival at Beijing Airport and later that evening hosted a dinner for them at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, according to press reports. Wang noted that as people from both sides of the Strait are the "same family," athletes from "Chinese Taipei" (Zhonghua Taibei) should treat the Beijing Olympics as their "home court." Wang expressed hope that the Olympics would develop "greater affection" and increase cooperation between the two sides in order to usher in a "new phase" of peaceful development in cross-Strait relations. The media reports quoted Lien as calling the Olympics a "great accomplishment for the Chinese nation and saying he was "deeply honored" to be able to personally witness the event. ¶2. (U) On August 6 Wang greeted Taiwan People's First Party Chairman James Soong at the airport. Soong noted on his arrival that Beijing's hosting of the Olympics shows China's "long and glorious history" as well as its "bright future." Read-outs of the Official Meetings -------------- ¶3. (C) TAO official Chen Xiaolin told POLOFF on August 6 that meetings between Wang Yi and Lien Chan were a "courtesy call" and that "no serious discussions of policy took place" during the meeting. As reported in the media, Chen said the meeting's main purpose was to welcome Lien to the Olympics. Chen noted that the TAO has few duties related to the Olympics, being responsible only for hosting Lien, KMT Chairman Wu Poh-hsiung and Soong during their stay. The three Taiwan ministers (sports, education, and minister without portfolio),along with all the "Zhonghua Taipei" athletes, are being hosted by the Beijing Olympic Committee. Beijing University Professor Zhu Feng told PolOffs on August 6 that the Lien-Wang meeting was "superficial," adding that Lien was pleased because it was the first time he had met Wang Yi. RANDT