TAIWAN: GUIDANCE FOR GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING,

C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 099661 SIPDIS USUN FOR DELAURENTIS AND WILLSON E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/16/2018 TAGS: PREL AORC KPAO UNGA TW SUBJECT: TAIWAN: GUIDANCE FOR GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING, SEPTEMBER 17 Classified By: IO PDAS James Warlick. Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (U) Following is guidance on a supplementary item proposed for inclusion in the 63rd session of the UNGA: "Need to examine the fundamental rights of the 23 million people of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to participate meaningfully in the activities of the United Nations specialized agencies." Guidance is for the September 17 General Committee meeting. ¶2. (C) In addressing efforts by Taiwan's diplomatic partners to seek inscription of an item on increased Taiwan participation in specialized agencies on the UNGA agenda, Department asks USUN to manage business in accordance with the following: -- The United States supports the long-standing two-plus-two format in the General Committee (GC) as the optimal means to handle Taiwan-related issues as rapidly and efficiently as possible. Department, however, understands from Taiwan sources that there may be a procedural vote proposing a one-plus-one format to handle this Taiwan issue. While the USG prefers a two-plus-two format, USUN may vote in favor of a one-plus-one approach. -- If there is debate on this issue in the GC whether to inscribe the United States should remain silent. If there is a discussion of the substantive issue of Taiwan's desire for UN membership, USUN should invoke Rule 40 of the Rules of Procedure which provides, in part, that "the General Committee shall not discuss the substance of any item except in so far as this bears upon the question whether the General Committee should recommend the inclusion of the item in the agenda. . . ." USUN should invoke this rule as necessary. ¶3. (C) Ideally, the USG would like to avoid a GC vote on whether to recommend the inclusion of this item. If the Mission must vote in the GC on whether to recommend the inscription of the item on the UNGA agenda, the Mission should abstain. RICE