Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09SUVA245
2009-06-10 21:48:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Suva
Cable title:
AMBASSADOR LUNCHES WITH TAIWAN'S TRADE MISSION
P 102148Z JUN 09 FM AMEMBASSY SUVA TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1305 INFO AMEMBASSY CANBERRA AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON AMEMBASSY PORT MORESBY AMEMBASSY MAJURO AMEMBASSY KOLONIA AMEMBASSY KOROR AMEMBASSY LONDON AMEMBASSY PARIS AMEMBASSY TOKYO AMEMBASSY APIA AMEMBASSY BEIJING AIT TAIPEI 0004 USMISSION USUN NEW YORK USEU BRUSSELS HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI
UNCLAS SUVA 000245
PLEASE PASS TO EAP DAS NORRIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM TW FJ
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR LUNCHES WITH TAIWAN'S TRADE MISSION
REPRESENTATIVE
UNCLAS SUVA 000245
PLEASE PASS TO EAP DAS NORRIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM TW FJ
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR LUNCHES WITH TAIWAN'S TRADE MISSION
REPRESENTATIVE
1. On June 4, I met with Victor Chin, Taiwan's Trade Mission
Representative, for an informal luncheon to discuss Taiwan's goals
in the region. Chin assured me that Taiwan was honoring its pledge
to withhold any direct payments to Fiji's de facto PM Bainimarama.
Chin recalled that immediately after the 2006 coup, the United
States requested Taipei to stop its grassroots payments amounting to
USD million to Fiji's prime minister's office. Although these
payments had been given to former PM Qarase, Chin said Bainimarama
was calling on a weekly basis asking to resume the payments. Chin
added that Taipei decided to curtail grassroots payments to Pacific
politicians even before its current apparent truce with Beijing on
checkbook diplomacy. He noted that Beijing was honoring its
agreement not to pursue efforts to get Kiribati, Tuvalu, Nauru and
Solomon Islands to switch allegiances. However, there was no local
engagement between his office and the PRC embassy.
2. Chin said that recent trade missions by Taiwanese businessmen to
Fiji were organized by Fiji's representative in Taipei. The Fijian
government, Chin reported, is keen on finding foreign investors to
take over some of the cash short resort properties. Thus far there
have been no takers. Chin observed that the local Chinese community
has not been adversely affected by the economic downturn because it
is engaged in local exports, particularly fisheries, food products
and mahogany, which are sold mostly to mainland China. He said
that Taipei would continue its agricultural development projects at
the village level.
COMMENT
--------------
3. It is a bit ironic that Fiji is seeking Taiwanese investment in
the tourism sector while at the same time seeking PRC tourists.
Fiji last year relaxed entry requirements for Chinese visitors and
received Beijing's designation as an approved tourist destination.
MCGANN
PLEASE PASS TO EAP DAS NORRIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM TW FJ
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR LUNCHES WITH TAIWAN'S TRADE MISSION
REPRESENTATIVE
1. On June 4, I met with Victor Chin, Taiwan's Trade Mission
Representative, for an informal luncheon to discuss Taiwan's goals
in the region. Chin assured me that Taiwan was honoring its pledge
to withhold any direct payments to Fiji's de facto PM Bainimarama.
Chin recalled that immediately after the 2006 coup, the United
States requested Taipei to stop its grassroots payments amounting to
USD million to Fiji's prime minister's office. Although these
payments had been given to former PM Qarase, Chin said Bainimarama
was calling on a weekly basis asking to resume the payments. Chin
added that Taipei decided to curtail grassroots payments to Pacific
politicians even before its current apparent truce with Beijing on
checkbook diplomacy. He noted that Beijing was honoring its
agreement not to pursue efforts to get Kiribati, Tuvalu, Nauru and
Solomon Islands to switch allegiances. However, there was no local
engagement between his office and the PRC embassy.
2. Chin said that recent trade missions by Taiwanese businessmen to
Fiji were organized by Fiji's representative in Taipei. The Fijian
government, Chin reported, is keen on finding foreign investors to
take over some of the cash short resort properties. Thus far there
have been no takers. Chin observed that the local Chinese community
has not been adversely affected by the economic downturn because it
is engaged in local exports, particularly fisheries, food products
and mahogany, which are sold mostly to mainland China. He said
that Taipei would continue its agricultural development projects at
the village level.
COMMENT
--------------
3. It is a bit ironic that Fiji is seeking Taiwanese investment in
the tourism sector while at the same time seeking PRC tourists.
Fiji last year relaxed entry requirements for Chinese visitors and
received Beijing's designation as an approved tourist destination.
MCGANN