EAP/CM DIRECTOR JOHN NORRIS'S MEETINGS WITH NSC

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 TAIPEI 001091 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/24/2023 TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON CH TW SUBJECT: EAP/CM DIRECTOR JOHN NORRIS'S MEETINGS WITH NSC SECGEN SU CHI AND FOREIGN MINISTER FRANCISCO OU Classified By: AIT Director Stephen M. Young, Reasons: 1.4 (b/d) ¶1. (C) Summary: During separate meetings on July 15 with NSC Secretary General Su Chi and Foreign Minister Francisco Ou, EAP/CM Director John Norris welcomed recent cross-Strait progress and noted U.S. efforts urging Beijing to take a constructive and flexible approach toward cross-Strait relations, including the issue of Taiwan's international space. Su Chi said he expects the pace of cross-Strait developments to slow down during the sensitive month of August, when China hosts the Olympics. President Ma Ying-jeou regards China as both an opportunity and a threat, Su explained, adding that Taiwan wants to take advantage of the opportunity, while at the same time reducing the threat by not pursuing de jure independence. Su and Norris also discussed TIFA and Taiwan's interest in an FTA. Foreign Minister Ou stressed Taiwan's hope for a diplomatic truce with Beijing in the international arena. According to Ou, Taiwan's current diplomatic relationships, including Paraguay, the Dominican Republic, Panama, and Nicaragua, are stable. He noted Taiwan will focus on trying to become an observer at the WHA and he indicated this will be featured in the Taiwan effort at this year's UNGA. End Summary. Meeting with NSC Secretary General Su Chi -------------- ¶2. (C) EAP/CM Director John Norris, accompanied by the Director, met with NSC Secretary General Su Chi at the Presidential Office on July 15. Su was accompanied by incoming TECRO Representative Jason Yuan and NSC Deputy Secretary General Lee Hai-tung. Norris told Su the U.S. welcomes recent steps taken by Taiwan with the mainland, including restoring the cross-Strait dialogue and reaching agreements on weekend charter flights and travel to Taiwan by mainland tour groups. Asked about short-term prospects for further cross-Strait developments, Su noted that August would be a sensitive month with the Olympics, President Bush's visit to China, and overseas travel by President Ma Ying-jeou. The pace of cross-Strait development will slow down in August, Su predicted, adding this will give Taiwan an opportunity to evaluate the situation. The Ma administration is most concerned now about the economy, and it will take some unilateral steps, including easing restrictions on investment in China, in hopes of jump-starting the economy. ¶3. (C) Norris stressed that Secretary Rice and other senior U.S. officials have been urging Beijing to take a flexible and constructive approach to cross-Strait relations, including Taiwan's international space, and also to reduce the military buildup opposite Taiwan. Su Chi asked Norris about the new PRC Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) Director Wang Yi and State Councilor Dai Bingguo. He noted that his office has been collecting information from Taiwan's overseas representative offices on how China deals with Taiwan abroad. Su said he interpreted the Wang Yi appointment as a positive move in response to Taiwan's call for international space, but Taiwan remains unsure of Beijing's intentions and how far it will be willing to go to accommodate Taiwan. Since 2004, the KMT has had much contact with the TAO, but very little with China's MFA or PLA. Su added that he has often relied on U.S. thinktanks for information about MFA and PLA views. In the future, he said, Taiwan will try to build bridges to China's diplomats. ¶4. (C) Norris reviewed developments in U.S.-China security relations. In Su's opinion, two "alarming" incidents had occurred last year: China's anti-satellite test and its refusal to allow the Kitty Hawk to visit Hong Kong on Thanksgiving. Both incidents showed a lack of coordination between the PLA and MFA, Su maintained. Explaining that Ma TAIPEI 00001091 002 OF 003 Ying-jeou regards China as both an opportunity and a threat, Su said Taiwan wants to take advantage of the opportunity, while at the same time reducing the threat by not pursuing de jure independence, While having "no illusions," Su said he hopes China will change as it develops similar to the way Taiwan democratized beginning in the 1980s. ¶5. (C) Norris noted the upcoming visit by a USTR delegation and plans to hold TIFA talks later in the year, Admitting he would need a cram course on economics, Su said Ma Ying-jeou has been suggesting to some visitors that he hopes President Bush might consider announcing near the end of his term that the U.S. would be willing to negotiate an FTA with Taiwan. This would help counter the perception that the Ma administration is too pro-China, Su suggested. Norris stressed the U.S. preference to make progress on economic issues through the TIFA process. Meeting with Foreign Minister Ou -------------- ¶6. (C) In a separate meeting on July 15, Norris and the Director discussed international issues with Foreign Minister Francisco Ou, who was accompanied by Jason Yuan and North American Affairs Department Director General Harry Tseng. Norris said the U.S. welcomes the progress in cross-Strait relations and hopes there will be momentum for further steps, for example, on Taiwan's participation in international organizations. The U.S. wants to work closely with Taiwan, and is urging China to take a constructive and flexible approach toward cross-Strait relations. ¶7. (C) Ou stressed Taiwan's desire to stop the zero-sum game with Beijing over diplomatic partners, which he said benefits nobody and wastes the resources of both sides. Beijing needs seriously to consider a diplomatic truce with Taiwan in order to obtain positive results in cross-Strait relations, Ou maintained, adding that Paraguay will be an indicator of whether China is willing to call a diplomatic truce. Although Paraguayan President-elect Lugo said publicly after his election that he intended to visit China, in fact he only visited Korea but not China during his trip to the region. Moreover, Paraguay has invited President Ma to attend the August 15 inauguration, and some incoming cabinet appointees are already discussing cooperation projects with the Taiwan embassy in Asuncion. For the moment, Ou concluded, Paraguay is not thinking of switching recognition from Taipei to Beijing. ¶8. (C) Asked about Taiwan's relations with other countries in Latin America, Ou said Panama spent a year negotiating with China but ultimately decided to continue its diplomatic relations with Taiwan. The Dominican Republic also decided to continue with Taiwan after negotiating with the Chinese. Although Taiwan has not yet received an invitation to the Dominican Republic's inauguration, it is expecting an invitation to come. Nicaragua is no problem, Ou emphasized. Although in theory Ortega should be allied ideologically with Beijing, he has publicly criticized China for not delivering on its promises. In other regions, Ou said, Taiwan's diplomatic relationships in the South Pacific are "pretty firm," and there are no problems with Taiwan's remaining African "allies." ¶9. (C) Ou stressed Taiwan will need to work hard on Beijing and will also need U.S. assistance to make progress on participating in international organizations. Taiwan plans to concentrate its efforts on the WHO, the goal being to participate in the WHA as an observer. This year, Taiwan hopes to use the UNGA as a platform to present its WHA observer bid. On the APEC leaders meeting in November, Taiwan would like to send someone with political weight and TAIPEI 00001091 003 OF 003 hopes Beijing will accept this in light of the improvement in cross-Strait relations. ¶10. (C) Mr. Norris cleared this cable. YOUNG