FOREIGN MINISTER OU DISCUSSES TAIWAN'S NEW UN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TAIPEI 001172

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/08/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV TW
SUBJECT: FOREIGN MINISTER OU DISCUSSES TAIWAN'S NEW UN
STRATEGY

Classified By: AIT Director Stephen M. Young,
Reasons: 1.4 (b/d)


1. (C) Summary: Foreign Minister Ou told the Director on
August 7 that Taiwan plans to have its allies co-sponsor a
proposal on Taiwan's "meaningful participation" in UN
specialized agencies at this year's UNGA General Committee
meeting. Taiwan is hoping for limited discussion and a mild
PRC reaction to its proposal, which it expects to fail in the
General Committee. Ou requested the U.S. to support Taiwan's
appeal for meaningful participation in UN specialized
agencies, particularly its bid for WHA observership, and to
encourage a low-key reaction from the PRC. The Director said
he would forward Taiwan's request to Washington and pass back
any response. End Summary.


2. (U) Foreign Minister Ou delivered talking points on
Taiwan's UN strategy for this year to the Director in an
August 7 meeting at MOFA. (Talking points faxed to EAP/TC.)
Ou was accompanied by Vice Foreign Minister David Lin and
MOFA Director General of International Organizations Paul
Chang.

Meaningful Participation and Avoiding Confrontation
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3. (C) In explaining Taiwan's new approach, VFM Lin said the
Ma administration feels it must respond to domestic support
for Taiwan's UN campaign, but also wants to reduce
confrontation with the PRC on the issue. It hopes to do this
by coordinating with the PRC through informal NSC channels
and by encouraging friends, like the U.S. and Japan, to urge
Beijing to understand Taiwan's desire to avoid any serious
reaction. Lin pointed out that Taiwan's new approach,
emphasizing participation in specialized agencies rather than
rejoining the UN itself, is in line with President Ma's
August 4 foreign policy speech at MOFA. (Note: In addition
to the WHO and WHA, Taiwan's talking points also mention the
International Maritime Organization (IMO),to which Taiwan
has no direct access.)


4. (C) The proposal to be co-sponsored by Taiwan's
diplomatic allies is entitled: "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." The
proposal will be delivered to the UN Secretariat on August

14. Taiwan plans for one or two proxies (diplomatic allies)
to submit its proposal as a supplementary item at the
September 16 closed-door UN General Committee meeting, and
thereby avoid any serious debate. Ou said Taiwan hopes for a
neutral statement by this year's chair, Nicaragua, to the
effect that a consensus could not be reached and therefore
the issue would not be forwarded to the UNGA.

Taiwan Requests U.S. Support
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5. (C) Lin expressed hope the U.S. would "echo" Taiwan's
desire to moderate the historically tense back-and-forth
between Taipei and Beijing on the UN issue. Although Lin
believed Beijing should be aware of Taiwan's intentions after
Ma's August 4 speech, he hoped the U.S. would encourage the
PRC to mute its reaction at the UN GC meeting this year. Lin
also expressed hope the U.S. would support Taiwan's
participation in the WHO and observership at the WHA and
would "take a more neutral stance" as Taiwan searched for an
amicable solution to the UN issue. Both Ou and Lin welcomed
the Director's suggestion that perhaps the U.S. could work
with Taiwan on gaining a voice in the International Maritime
and International Civil Aviation Organizations.

How Will Beijing Respond to Taiwan's New Approach?
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6. (C) The Director said he would forward Taiwan's talking
points and request to Washington and would pass back any
response. He noted that the success of Taiwan's new approach
will depend on Beijing. Despite Chinese President Hu
Jintao's more positive rhetoric on cross-Strait relations, a
low-key response at the UN General Committee meeting would
require the Foreign Ministry in Beijing to send special
instructions to its representatives - a development that is
not yet clear. The Director suggested that Beijing's
reaction to President Ma's upcoming trip to Paraguay and the
Dominican Republic would be an indication of the PRC's
willingness to take a more flexible approach toward Taiwan on
"international space" issues, including Taiwan's new UN
strategy.

YOUNG