TAIWAN RESPONSE TO U.S. VIEWS ON THE INTERNATIONAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L AIT TAIPEI 000739 STATE FOR OES/EGC, IO/EDA, EEB/ESC, AND EAP/TC E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/22/2019 TAGS: ENRG KGHG SENV TW CH SUBJECT: TAIWAN RESPONSE TO U.S. VIEWS ON THE INTERNATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY AGENCY REF: A. STATE 61286 B. TAIPEI 101 Classified By: Classified by Economic Chief Hanscom Smith for reasons 1 .4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (SBU) On June 17, ESTH officer delivered reftel points to Mr. Hsu Ting Chang, Chief of the Task Force on International Environmental Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. ¶2. (SBU) Hsu stated that German officials have expressed a desire for Taiwan participation in IRENA. Because IRENA membership is open to UN member states, noted Hsu, a determination must first be made as to what name and status Taiwan could use to join. Hsu does not expect a determination before the June 28-30 IRENA meeting in Egypt, which Taiwan will not attend. Once Taiwan receives word from its German interlocutors, Taiwan will consult internally on the name and status offered. Hsu said Taiwan prefers to join IRENA as a full member or with full observer status, but will wait to see what the Germans suggest. Hsu added that in principle, Taiwan is very interested in playing a role in IRENA and currently has no opinion on the HQ or DG issues raised in reftel. ¶3. (SBU) Hsu asked that the USG "support" Taiwan if approached by the Germans, or take direct action to raise the issue of Taiwan's participation with Germany. ¶4. (SBU) Hsu closed by saying that Taiwan does not have a detailed opinion on what focus IRENA should take, but agreed that a technical assistance role as suggested in reftel would be appropriate. He added that Taiwan sees IRENA as just one tree in the forest of environmental protection and hopes that, in addition to IRENA, Taiwan will be permitted to participate in other multilateral environmental fora in the future. ¶5. (C) Comment: IRENA is one of a large number of international organizations in which Taiwan could play a useful role if it can work out a modus vivendi with the PRC. Membership appears reserved solely for UN member states, however. Having gained observer status as Chinese Taipei at the May World Health Assembly in May, MOFA is reviewing whether, when and how to push for more meaningful participation in other UN-affiliated organizations. Even were Taipei to make IRENA a top priority (and there is no indication that this is the case),its energies will be focused squarely on the cross-Strait politics of the issue, leaving it little ability to carry U.S. water on questions of IRENA's HQ or DG. End Comment YOUNG