TAIWAN IN THE OECD: AUSTRIA FAVORS U.S. POSITION

C O N F I D E N T I A L VIENNA 000296 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/28/2023 TAGS: PREL OECD ECON CMGT TW AU SUBJECT: TAIWAN IN THE OECD: AUSTRIA FAVORS U.S. POSITION REF: STATE 20058 Classified By: Econ/Pol Couns Dean Yap. Reason: 1.4(b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Econ/Pol Couns met 2/29 with MFA Asia Department Director Zimburg to deliver reftel demarche. Zimburg reported that Austria's basic position on Taiwanese participation in international organizations was in favor of "pragmatic" engagement. Thus, Austria would tend to oppose proposals that exclude future options. After reading through reftel points and further discussion, Zimburg said that he thought the Austrian position would be very close to the USG's. He took on board, but did not respond to, the specific request that Austria approach the Secretariat and Secretary General on the issue. SIPDIS ¶2. (C) Asked about a possible EU role, Zimburg was uncertain. He recalled that in early 2007 the Chinese had been able to divide the EU on the issue of Taiwan's participation in the International Organization for Animal Health (sic),with at least Malta, Cyprus, Spain and Portugal adopting the Chinese argument. Since then, there have been some efforts to develop an agreed EU position on Taiwanese engagement with IOs. but Zimburg was unsure if a final agreement had been reached. ¶3. (C) Zimburg undertook to look into any particular role Austria might have in the OECD with respect to the proposed MoU and to investigate the issue further in the EU as well. Kilner