MAC CHAIRPERSON LAI SHIN-YUAN ON CROSS-STRAIT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 TAIPEI 000915 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/27/2018 TAGS: PGOV PREL CH TW SUBJECT: MAC CHAIRPERSON LAI SHIN-YUAN ON CROSS-STRAIT DEVELOPMENTS Classified By: AIT Director Stephen M. Young, Reasons: 1.4 (b/d) ¶1. (C) Summary: Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Chairperson Lai Shin-yuan told the Director on June 25 that she has not encountered problems so far coordinating cross-Strait policy, pointing out that MAC is the government agency legally responsible for dealing with cross-Strait affairs and policies. Lai noted that Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) and Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait (ARATS) working level teams will be discussing flight routes, sea transportation, and air cargo flights. Foreign nationals with valid documents will be able to take the weekend cross-Strait charter flights, Lai suggested. She underscored the importance of good U.S.-Taiwan relations, including in the context of developing cross-Strait relations. The Director stressed the strong U.S. support for Taiwan and our encouragement for the positive development of cross-Strait relations, on equal terms and without coercion. End Summary. ¶2. (C) The Director discussed cross-Strait developments with Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Chairperson Lai Shin-yuan and Vice Chairman Fu Don-cheng in a meeting at MAC headquarters on June 25. Noting she had been on the job just over five weeks, Lai said cross-Strait relations are off to a good start, and she stressed her appreciation for the hard work and professionalism of the 170-strong MAC staff. Lai said coordinating policy has not been a problem for her despite the high level interest by a range of political leaders. Since 1991 in both law and practice, MAC has been the sole government body legally authorized to deal with mainland affairs and policies, she explained. MAC plays a coordinating role, consolidating policies from different perspectives in an orderly process. ¶3. (C) According to the constitution and the NSC law, Lai noted, the president has the major say in cross-Strait, defense, and foreign policies. Decision-making works through the NSC, which organizes high-level meetings to deal with these issues, and which also can address major economic issues, such as the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis. When it is necessary, for example, in discussing cross-Strait economic issues, other relevant ministers such as the Minister of Economic Affairs or the head of the Council on Agriculture are also included in the decision making process. ¶4. (C) Lai said she will be color blind in the political sense, and her guiding principle will always be to safeguard the interests of the Taiwan people. She noted that the Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) had fully supported her taking up the MAC position even before the appointment, and added that Lee Teng-hui had urged her to take up the challenge. When she was first appointed, Lai recalled, some people had suggested MAC would be sidelined or marginalized. This has not happened, she stressed. MAC represents the government, which has take into account the overall national interest, including Taiwan's relations with the U.S. and Japan. Some KMT leaders may have their own viewpoints or agendas, which can be useful for reference, but these do not outweigh MAC, which is the government. Lai did complain, however, that MAC is often unfairly blamed by other ministries for blocking or going too slow on their initiatives ¶5. (C) The Director asked whether Lai was concerned Beijing might try to use different cross-Strait channels, for example, the party-to-party dialogue, to manipulate cross-Strait relations. Lai responded that Taipei has sent Beijing a clear message, which is reflected in the resumption of the institutional dialogue between the Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) and the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait (ARATS). Lai credited SEF Chairman P.K. Chiang with taking a firm stand that he is the only ONE authorized by the government to deal with China. Also, Chiang has made clear to the press and to the Legislative Yuan (LY) that MAC is his superior. ¶6. (C) The Director asked about security considerations in selecting new cross-Strait flight routes that are more direct TAIPEI 00000915 002 OF 003 than the current circuitous route through Hong Kong airspace. Lai noted that devising more direct flight routes was included in the agenda agreed upon by SEF and ARATS ten days ago. Contrary to misleading press reports, however, new routes have not been decided, Lai said, adding that she has not yet discussed potential air routes with the Defense Ministry. In addition to flight routes, the two sides will also be working on sea transportation links, and within three months they will be discussing air cargo flights, quickly completing an agreement on this issue. Lai predicted working level SEF-ARATS talks will start soon, adding that Taiwan and the mainland are each setting up project committees (zhuan'an xiaozu). ¶7. (C) The Director stressed the importance to the U.S. and international business community that foreign nationals be allowed to use the cross-Strait charter flights. Based on the previous discussions between Taiwan and PRC representatives, Lai suggested that foreign nationals with proper travel documents will be able to take the weekend cross-Strait charter flights. In the future, the Director said, he hoped that U.S. airlines would be able to fly the cross-Strait route. This would make it easier for Taiwan to become a transportation hub, he pointed out. Lai agreed this would be good for Taiwan, but predicted China would probably be opposed, mainly for political reasons. Cross-Strait progress will be step by step, and this kind of issue can be addressed in the future, she suggested. ¶8. (C) ARATS and SEF vaguely touched on the idea of exchanging representative offices during P.K. Chiang's recent visit to China, Lai said. ARATS Chairman Chen Yunlin mentioned the idea of establishing a quasi-official China Travel Service office in Taiwan, but Taiwan is more interested in an exchange of representative offices between SEF and ARATS. There is already a legal basis in Taiwan for the exchange of representative offices, Lai added. ¶9. (C) Asked about the possibility of lifting current restrictions on Taiwan business investment in China, Lai said MAC will coordinate on this issue, based on the assessments and plans it receives from various agencies, including the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA). Lai noted proposals to lift the current 40 percent investment limit to a certain degree and also to allow Chinese investment in Taiwan. MAC Vice Chairman Fu added that the PRC authorities are the main obstacle blocking Chinese investment in Taiwan. Currently, Beijing does not allow FDI or portfolio investment in Taiwan, even in real estate, he explained, and this issue needs to be discussed with the Chinese. ¶10. (C) Lai stressed that U.S.-Taiwan relations are of crucial importance to Taiwan, including in the context of the now changing cross-Strait relationship. The Ma administration will eliminate the tensions that affected U.S.-Taiwan relations under President Chen, Lai assured the Director. Noting the positive U.S. statements encouraging the development of cross-Strait relations, Lai asked whether the USG has any reservations. The Director responded that the U.S. supports the development of cross-Strait relations so long as any agreements are made freely and without PRC coercion. Taiwan's democracy will provide a process for determining how Taiwan should address the more controversial cross-Strait issues, he added. The Director stressed the strong U.S. support for Taiwan, including support for Taiwan's meaningful participation in appropriate international organizations. Lai pointed to PRC Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) Director Wang Yi recent comments that Taiwan's HEALTH needs could be met through some kind of health network. This type of statement will not please the Taiwan people, who want to see action, not rhetoric, she said. ¶11. (C) In response to the Director's question, Lai said she would not rule out traveling to China herself, if it could be arranged on an "equal basis." She noted she had visited China many times in the past, most recently to attend a conference in Shanghai in 2003 at the time she was an NSC advisor under President Chen. TAIPEI 00000915 003 OF 003 Comment -------------- ¶12. (C) Despite the earlier criticism of her appointment from many quarters (Green, Blue, and Red),Lai seemed quite upbeat in this meeting and to be enjoying the challenges of her new job. The success of P.K. Chiang's recent trip to China and the upcoming start of weekend charter flights and expansion of PRC tourism to Taiwan have probably boosted morale at MAC. Although cross-Strait relations appear to be off to a good start, the two sides so far have focused on relatively easy issues, and there will be more difficult challenges ahead, including questions involving Taiwan's quest for increased international space. As these questions are joined, the coordination process Lai sketched out could become more contentious. YOUNG