Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08SINGAPORE89
2008-01-24 03:18:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Singapore
Cable title:
CODEL CHABOT TALKS TAIWAN, FREE TRADE WITH SENIOR
how-toVZCZCXRO9553 RR RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHGH RUEHHM RUEHNH RUEHVC DE RUEHGP #0089/01 0240318 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 240318Z JAN 08 FM AMEMBASSY SINGAPORE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4779 INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 2103 RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO 0111 RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON 1421 RUEHIN/AIT TAIPEI 6427
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 SINGAPORE 000089
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
H FOR CODEL CHABOT
USTR FOR AUSTR WEISEL AND DAUSTR BELL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/24/2018
TAGS: PREL ECON ECIN ETRD SENV SN
SUBJECT: CODEL CHABOT TALKS TAIWAN, FREE TRADE WITH SENIOR
GOS OFFICIALS
REF: SINGAPORE 71
Classified By: DCM Daniel L. Shields. Reasons 1.4(b)(d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 SINGAPORE 000089
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
H FOR CODEL CHABOT
USTR FOR AUSTR WEISEL AND DAUSTR BELL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/24/2018
TAGS: PREL ECON ECIN ETRD SENV SN
SUBJECT: CODEL CHABOT TALKS TAIWAN, FREE TRADE WITH SENIOR
GOS OFFICIALS
REF: SINGAPORE 71
Classified By: DCM Daniel L. Shields. Reasons 1.4(b)(d).
1. (C) Summary: Senior GOS officials discussed the impact of
Taiwan's legislative elections, prospects for more free trade
agreements, and regional architecture in January 14 meetings
with Rep. Steve Chabot (R-OH.). The GOS wants to make
progress toward a Free Trade Area of the Asia Pacific when
Singapore hosts the annual APEC Summit in 2009. End Summary.
2. (U) Rep. Steve Chabot (R-OH),accompanied by the DCM, met
separately with Foreign Minister George Yeo, Minister of
Trade and Industry Lim Hng Kiang, and Economic Development
Board (EDB) Acting Managing Director Gong Wee Lik during his
visit to Singapore January 13-15, 2008. Rep. Chabot also
held a discussion with the American Chamber of Commerce's
Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) committee.
Taiwan's Legislative Elections
--------------
3. (C) Commenting on the results of Taiwan's January 12
legislative elections, Foreign Minister Yeo attributed the
poor showing by President Chen Shui-bian,s Democratic
Progressive Party (DPP) to Chen's "overly adventurous"
dealings with China. Reflecting Singapore's longstanding
unease with Chen's approach to China (reftel),Yeo complained
that Chen was "playing dice with the lives of the Taiwanese."
He commented that Taiwan voters may not like the opposition
KMT, but they were fed up with Chen's "acrobatics."
Congressman Chabot, who had recently visited Taiwan, made it
clear that the United States is not favoring either the DPP
or the KMT in Taiwan elections.
Free Trade Agreements
--------------
4. (C) FM Yeo said Singapore is pleased that the USG is
interested in participating in negotiations on investment and
financial services set to commence in February among the
"P-4" group of countries (Singapore, Chile, New Zealand, and
Brunei) and to explore full participation in the P-4 Free
Trade Agreement at some later date. He called such trade
arrangements "Lego pieces" that can be used as building
blocks for a Free Trade Area of the Asia Pacific (FTAAP).
5. (C) Minister of Trade and Industry Lim Hng Kiang told Rep.
Chabot that Singapore's goal when hosting the APEC Summit in
2009 is to make progress toward the FTAAP, using the P-4 as a
gold standard, and hoping to attract more members into the
P-4 by the time of the Summit. He viewed Korea, Vietnam,
Malaysia, and perhaps Mexico as likely candidates.
6. (C) Lim also expressed his hope that U.S. FTA negotiations
with Thailand and Malaysia will get back on track and that
the Doha Round will be "resuscitated from its deep coma." He
commented that the Doha Round can't wait until after the U.S.
Presidential election this fall for action. Rep. Chabot
underscored his strong support for free trade in all his
meetings with GOS officials and with AmCham members.
Regional Architecture
--------------
7. (C) FM Yeo cited the ASEAN Charter as an example of
Singapore's efforts to make Southeast Asia a platform for
stability between China and India. Minister Lim also
emphasized the importance of interregional groupings such as
APEC. Lim praised USTR Ambassador Susan Schwab's
contributions in her meetings with ASEAN trade ministers last
November, especially her encouragement of improved customs
procedures, revised agricultural and pharmaceutical
standards, and investment climate surveys. Lim also
expressed satisfaction over the progress of the U.S.-ASEAN
Trade and Investment Framework Arrangement (TIFA).
Climate Change and the Environment
--------------
8. (SBU) FM Yeo asserted that without U.S. leadership, a
post-Kyoto accord on climate change is not possible. EDB
Acting Managing Director Gong Wee Lik detailed for Rep.
SINGAPORE 00000089 002 OF 002
Chabot Singapore's work on environmental research. In
particular, the GOS is focused on: biotech, interactive
digital technology, and clean technologies, especially water
purification systems.
9. (U) Rep. Chabot did not have an opportunity to clear this
message.
Visit Embassy Singapore's Classified website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/singapore/ind ex.cfm
HERBOLD
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
H FOR CODEL CHABOT
USTR FOR AUSTR WEISEL AND DAUSTR BELL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/24/2018
TAGS: PREL ECON ECIN ETRD SENV SN
SUBJECT: CODEL CHABOT TALKS TAIWAN, FREE TRADE WITH SENIOR
GOS OFFICIALS
REF: SINGAPORE 71
Classified By: DCM Daniel L. Shields. Reasons 1.4(b)(d).
1. (C) Summary: Senior GOS officials discussed the impact of
Taiwan's legislative elections, prospects for more free trade
agreements, and regional architecture in January 14 meetings
with Rep. Steve Chabot (R-OH.). The GOS wants to make
progress toward a Free Trade Area of the Asia Pacific when
Singapore hosts the annual APEC Summit in 2009. End Summary.
2. (U) Rep. Steve Chabot (R-OH),accompanied by the DCM, met
separately with Foreign Minister George Yeo, Minister of
Trade and Industry Lim Hng Kiang, and Economic Development
Board (EDB) Acting Managing Director Gong Wee Lik during his
visit to Singapore January 13-15, 2008. Rep. Chabot also
held a discussion with the American Chamber of Commerce's
Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) committee.
Taiwan's Legislative Elections
--------------
3. (C) Commenting on the results of Taiwan's January 12
legislative elections, Foreign Minister Yeo attributed the
poor showing by President Chen Shui-bian,s Democratic
Progressive Party (DPP) to Chen's "overly adventurous"
dealings with China. Reflecting Singapore's longstanding
unease with Chen's approach to China (reftel),Yeo complained
that Chen was "playing dice with the lives of the Taiwanese."
He commented that Taiwan voters may not like the opposition
KMT, but they were fed up with Chen's "acrobatics."
Congressman Chabot, who had recently visited Taiwan, made it
clear that the United States is not favoring either the DPP
or the KMT in Taiwan elections.
Free Trade Agreements
--------------
4. (C) FM Yeo said Singapore is pleased that the USG is
interested in participating in negotiations on investment and
financial services set to commence in February among the
"P-4" group of countries (Singapore, Chile, New Zealand, and
Brunei) and to explore full participation in the P-4 Free
Trade Agreement at some later date. He called such trade
arrangements "Lego pieces" that can be used as building
blocks for a Free Trade Area of the Asia Pacific (FTAAP).
5. (C) Minister of Trade and Industry Lim Hng Kiang told Rep.
Chabot that Singapore's goal when hosting the APEC Summit in
2009 is to make progress toward the FTAAP, using the P-4 as a
gold standard, and hoping to attract more members into the
P-4 by the time of the Summit. He viewed Korea, Vietnam,
Malaysia, and perhaps Mexico as likely candidates.
6. (C) Lim also expressed his hope that U.S. FTA negotiations
with Thailand and Malaysia will get back on track and that
the Doha Round will be "resuscitated from its deep coma." He
commented that the Doha Round can't wait until after the U.S.
Presidential election this fall for action. Rep. Chabot
underscored his strong support for free trade in all his
meetings with GOS officials and with AmCham members.
Regional Architecture
--------------
7. (C) FM Yeo cited the ASEAN Charter as an example of
Singapore's efforts to make Southeast Asia a platform for
stability between China and India. Minister Lim also
emphasized the importance of interregional groupings such as
APEC. Lim praised USTR Ambassador Susan Schwab's
contributions in her meetings with ASEAN trade ministers last
November, especially her encouragement of improved customs
procedures, revised agricultural and pharmaceutical
standards, and investment climate surveys. Lim also
expressed satisfaction over the progress of the U.S.-ASEAN
Trade and Investment Framework Arrangement (TIFA).
Climate Change and the Environment
--------------
8. (SBU) FM Yeo asserted that without U.S. leadership, a
post-Kyoto accord on climate change is not possible. EDB
Acting Managing Director Gong Wee Lik detailed for Rep.
SINGAPORE 00000089 002 OF 002
Chabot Singapore's work on environmental research. In
particular, the GOS is focused on: biotech, interactive
digital technology, and clean technologies, especially water
purification systems.
9. (U) Rep. Chabot did not have an opportunity to clear this
message.
Visit Embassy Singapore's Classified website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/singapore/ind ex.cfm
HERBOLD