FOREIGN MINISTER URGES PROGRESS ON BILATERAL TIES,

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TAIPEI 001065 SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/TC AND IO E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/31/2019 TAGS: PREL PGOV CVIS ECON ETRD EAIR SENV UNGA TW US SUBJECT: FOREIGN MINISTER URGES PROGRESS ON BILATERAL TIES, OUTLINES UNGA STRATEGY IN DIRECTOR'S INTRODUCTORY CALL TAIPEI 00001065 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: The Director for reasons 1.4(b/d) ¶1. (C) Summary. Taiwan hopes the restoration of mutual trust in the bilateral relationship will result in concrete progress on bilateral issues, Foreign Minister Ou Hong-lien told the Director during their introductory meeting. The Director said the United States also wants to deepen the relationship, including by making progress on the construction of AIT's New Office Compound (NOC). Ou cited ICAO and the UNFCCC as Taiwan's top priorities for expanding its participation in international organizations, but admitted the initial PRC response had not been encouraging. End Summary. Both Sides Ready to Move Forward -------------- ¶2. (C) There is a "new willingness" in Washington to move forward with U.S.-Taiwan relations, the Director told Foreign Minister Ou Hong-lien during his August 30 introductory call. Noting that it was his first official meeting since arriving on Taiwan, the Director said he had clear instructions to work to strengthen and deepen ties. Thanks to the contributions of many people, Ou said, our relations were moving in the right direction. The Ma administration has been working to rebuild mutual trust, and now hoped to draw on that trust to achieve concrete results that would bring benefits to both sides. ¶3. (C) MOFA and TECRO have been effective in laying out the Ma administration's specific goals, the Director said, including negotiating an extradition agreement and securing Taiwan's admission to the visa waiver program. The Taiwan Relations Act gave us a solid basis to move forward, he stressed, noting that the United States had already begun interagency discussions of a possible extradition agreement. The Director emphasized the importance of the NOC project in Neihu, observing that he had visited the site of the project on his first day on Taiwan. Although it would take time to complete the NOC, he said, the U.S. investment was an important symbol of the strength of our unofficial relationship with Taiwan. ¶4. (C) Ou expressed appreciation for U.S. assistance in the aftermath of Typhoon Morakot. The people of Taiwan saw the quick U.S. response as a clear demonstration of our long friendship, he said. Both sides had helped each other in times of need, the Director underscored, noting Taiwan's contributions to the relief efforts in the wake of hurricane Katrina. AIT would continue to help, as needed, he said, including by briefing MOFA on the results of USAID officials' assessments of their recent trips as soon as these reports were available. PRC Not Encouraging on International Space -------------- ¶5. (C) Ou briefed the Director on efforts to increase Taiwan's participation in international organizations, noting that ICAO and UNFCCC were now Taipei's top priorities. With so many cross-Strait flights now taking place, Ou said, it was essential that Taiwan have a reliable channel to discuss aviation security issues. Likewise, Taiwan was keenly interested in efforts to combat climate change and wanted to be a part of the solution. MOFA had already consulted with the United States on these issues, Ou said, and was working with its diplomatic allies on a letter, to be circulated at this year's UNGA, laying out Taiwan's position. Of course, Ou emphasized, dialogue behind the scenes would be key. ¶6. (C) Increasing Taiwan's meaningful participation in international organizations was in everyone's interest, the Director agreed, and a particularly strong case could be made for ICAO and UNFCCC. While the United States would help to the extent possible, the PRC's attitude would of course be a key factor in the success of this effort, he stressed. Ou confirmed that Taiwan had raised the idea with Beijing, but admitted that the PRC response had "not been encouraging." ¶7. (C) Comment: In a September 1 meeting with the Director (septel),President Ma reconfirmed the decision to have TAIPEI 00001065 002.2 OF 002 diplomatic allies make a statement during UNGA endorsing Taiwan's desire and need to participate in ICAO and the UNFCCC. There is no expectation here that this effort will succeed in the near future in the face of PRC opposition. Using the UNGA to lay out Taiwan's goals should, however, make it clear to all where Taipei plans to focus its attention, and - perhaps more importantly - will help the adminstration head off domestic criticism that President Ma has ceded the UN completely to the PRC. STANTON