Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08TAIPEI561
2008-04-23 10:07:00
CONFIDENTIAL
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Cable title:
AIT RECEIVES ASYLUM REQUEST FROM PRC NATIONAL
how-toVZCZCXRO5495 OO RUEHCN RUEHGH DE RUEHIN #0561/01 1141007 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 231007Z APR 08 FM AIT TAIPEI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8744 INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 8190 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 9539 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 9856 RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK 4170 RUEHPF/AMEMBASSY PHNOM PENH 0695 RUEHGP/AMEMBASSY SINGAPORE 7268 RUEHCN/AMCONSUL CHENGDU 2631 RUEHGZ/AMCONSUL GUANGZHOU 1192 RUEHHK/AMCONSUL HONG KONG 9428 RUEHGH/AMCONSUL SHANGHAI 2009 RUEHSH/AMCONSUL SHENYANG 6598 RHMFISS/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHINGTON DC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TAIPEI 000561
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR PRM/A, INR/IC, P, DRL/MLGA, L/HRR, CA/VO,
DS/CI, EAP/TC
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/23/2033
TAGS: PREF PREL CVIS ASEC PGOV PINR PHUM TW CH
SUBJECT: AIT RECEIVES ASYLUM REQUEST FROM PRC NATIONAL
REF: 2007 STATE 54846
Classified By: AIT Director Stephen M. Young, Reason(s): 1.4 (B/D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TAIPEI 000561
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR PRM/A, INR/IC, P, DRL/MLGA, L/HRR, CA/VO,
DS/CI, EAP/TC
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/23/2033
TAGS: PREF PREL CVIS ASEC PGOV PINR PHUM TW CH
SUBJECT: AIT RECEIVES ASYLUM REQUEST FROM PRC NATIONAL
REF: 2007 STATE 54846
Classified By: AIT Director Stephen M. Young, Reason(s): 1.4 (B/D).
1. (C) On April 2, PRC citizen Cai Lujun sent an email to
AIT's American Corner library in Taichung, requesting
political asylum or refugee status in the U.S. The email was
forwarded to the AIT political section on April 7.
2. (C) In his email, Cai claimed he was imprisoned in the
PRC for three years for publishing materials critical of the
CCP leadership. Cai also claimed that PRC authorities
harassed him after his release from prison in March 2006.
Cai stated that he had entered Taiwan in July 2007, that he
had been arrested and detained 135 days for immigration
violations, and was released on December 17, 2007. Cai
complained that the temporary stay permit issued to him by
Taiwan immigration authorities forbade him from working, and
that he was in dire financial straits.
3. (C) AIT contacted the National Immigration Agency (NIA) on
April 11 to inquire about Cai's case. NIA replied on April
15, confirming that Cai had been jailed in the PRC for three
years. NIA also confirmed that Cai had entered Taiwan
illegally in July 2007, had been detained, and finally
released in mid-December 2007. According to NIA, Cai was
issued a three-GQQths in March
2008. The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) is monitoring Cai's
case, and MOFA's Taiwan Overseas Offices are helping Cai file
asylum petitions with third countries. When AIT mentioned
Cai's alleged financial difficulties, the NIA officer stated
that MAC might be able to provide him with financial
assistance to defray his living expenses.
4. (C) AIT's April 16 reply to Cai noted that the Taiwan
authorities had granted Cai temporary permission to remain in
Taiwan, and were actively assisting his efforts to seek
asylum elsewhere. AIT also indicated that Cai might be able
to obtain financial assistance from MAC. AIT noted that
Taiwan has well-established and reliable mechanisms to assist
asylum seekers and to protect their rights. AIT recommended
to Cai that he continue to cooperate with the Taiwan
authorities to seek legal residence in a third country, and
that he also seek assistance through the UNHCR office in
Bangkok. (Note: Taiwan does not have a refugee or asylum law.
End note.)
5. (C) On April 17, AIT received Cai's response. Cai alleged
that because Taiwan is not a member of the United Nations, a
petition filed by Taiwan with UNHCR was unlikely to have any
effect. Cai further alleged that he did not have a passport
of any kind, that the PRC would not issue him one, and
therefore he was unable to travel to Bangkok or any other
destination outside Taiwan. Cai reiterated his claims of
incarceration and abuse in the PRC, and his demand for asylum
or refugee status in the U.S. Cai also urged AIT to persuade
the Taiwan authorities to allow him to work. Cai claimed
"several years of experience in international trade," which
he could use to support himself.
6. (C) AIT does not have the following information: Cai's
date and place of birth, occupation, passport number,
political party affiliation, or prior government office. AIT
has not requested to meet with Cai, to avoid interfering in
Taiwan's ongoing efforts to assist him. Cai's case does not
appear to be time-sensitive and he is in little danger of
being forcibly repatriated. AIT is aware of five PRC
nationals currently in Taiwan seeking asylum in a third
country -- some of them have been in Taiwan for several
years. The Taiwan government regularly extends their
temporary stay permits, and provides limited financial aid.
We have no reason to believe that Cai will be treated
TAIPEI 00000561 002 OF 002
differently.
7. (C) ACTION REQUEST: At this point, we are not planning to
take further action on this case, based on USG standard
operating guidelines (2 FAM 229.2, 229.3, reftel par. 36).
Please advise if the Department has further guidance.
YOUNG
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR PRM/A, INR/IC, P, DRL/MLGA, L/HRR, CA/VO,
DS/CI, EAP/TC
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/23/2033
TAGS: PREF PREL CVIS ASEC PGOV PINR PHUM TW CH
SUBJECT: AIT RECEIVES ASYLUM REQUEST FROM PRC NATIONAL
REF: 2007 STATE 54846
Classified By: AIT Director Stephen M. Young, Reason(s): 1.4 (B/D).
1. (C) On April 2, PRC citizen Cai Lujun sent an email to
AIT's American Corner library in Taichung, requesting
political asylum or refugee status in the U.S. The email was
forwarded to the AIT political section on April 7.
2. (C) In his email, Cai claimed he was imprisoned in the
PRC for three years for publishing materials critical of the
CCP leadership. Cai also claimed that PRC authorities
harassed him after his release from prison in March 2006.
Cai stated that he had entered Taiwan in July 2007, that he
had been arrested and detained 135 days for immigration
violations, and was released on December 17, 2007. Cai
complained that the temporary stay permit issued to him by
Taiwan immigration authorities forbade him from working, and
that he was in dire financial straits.
3. (C) AIT contacted the National Immigration Agency (NIA) on
April 11 to inquire about Cai's case. NIA replied on April
15, confirming that Cai had been jailed in the PRC for three
years. NIA also confirmed that Cai had entered Taiwan
illegally in July 2007, had been detained, and finally
released in mid-December 2007. According to NIA, Cai was
issued a three-GQQths in March
2008. The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) is monitoring Cai's
case, and MOFA's Taiwan Overseas Offices are helping Cai file
asylum petitions with third countries. When AIT mentioned
Cai's alleged financial difficulties, the NIA officer stated
that MAC might be able to provide him with financial
assistance to defray his living expenses.
4. (C) AIT's April 16 reply to Cai noted that the Taiwan
authorities had granted Cai temporary permission to remain in
Taiwan, and were actively assisting his efforts to seek
asylum elsewhere. AIT also indicated that Cai might be able
to obtain financial assistance from MAC. AIT noted that
Taiwan has well-established and reliable mechanisms to assist
asylum seekers and to protect their rights. AIT recommended
to Cai that he continue to cooperate with the Taiwan
authorities to seek legal residence in a third country, and
that he also seek assistance through the UNHCR office in
Bangkok. (Note: Taiwan does not have a refugee or asylum law.
End note.)
5. (C) On April 17, AIT received Cai's response. Cai alleged
that because Taiwan is not a member of the United Nations, a
petition filed by Taiwan with UNHCR was unlikely to have any
effect. Cai further alleged that he did not have a passport
of any kind, that the PRC would not issue him one, and
therefore he was unable to travel to Bangkok or any other
destination outside Taiwan. Cai reiterated his claims of
incarceration and abuse in the PRC, and his demand for asylum
or refugee status in the U.S. Cai also urged AIT to persuade
the Taiwan authorities to allow him to work. Cai claimed
"several years of experience in international trade," which
he could use to support himself.
6. (C) AIT does not have the following information: Cai's
date and place of birth, occupation, passport number,
political party affiliation, or prior government office. AIT
has not requested to meet with Cai, to avoid interfering in
Taiwan's ongoing efforts to assist him. Cai's case does not
appear to be time-sensitive and he is in little danger of
being forcibly repatriated. AIT is aware of five PRC
nationals currently in Taiwan seeking asylum in a third
country -- some of them have been in Taiwan for several
years. The Taiwan government regularly extends their
temporary stay permits, and provides limited financial aid.
We have no reason to believe that Cai will be treated
TAIPEI 00000561 002 OF 002
differently.
7. (C) ACTION REQUEST: At this point, we are not planning to
take further action on this case, based on USG standard
operating guidelines (2 FAM 229.2, 229.3, reftel par. 36).
Please advise if the Department has further guidance.
YOUNG