PREMIER CALLS FOR DISASTER MANAGEMENT COOPERATION,

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TAIPEI 001081 SIPDIS STATE PASS USDA FOR FAS/OSTA WETZEL, HAMILTON, SHNITZLER; FAS/OCRA RADLER, BEILLARD; AND FAS/OFSO WAINIO. DHS FOR FEMA BANGKOK FOR USAID/OFDA E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/03/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON ETRD EAID EAGR TW CH SUBJECT: PREMIER CALLS FOR DISASTER MANAGEMENT COOPERATION, SEES "NO PROBLEM" WITH BEEF DEAL Classified By: The Director for reasons 1.4 (b/d) ¶1. (C) Summary: Premier Liu Chao-shiuan agreed with the Director during their September 3 introductory meeting that Taiwan and the United States should strengthen disaster management cooperation. Liu, who is spearheading Typhoon Morakot reconstruction efforts, suggested that the Dalai Lama's visit to comfort typhoon victims should not disrupt relations with China, and that the typhoon offered the best opportunity for such a visit with minimum offense to Beijing. Liu also agreed with the Director that the time was right to strengthen U.S.-Taiwan relations on trade and other issues. End Summary. Typhoon Shows Need for Cooperation -------------- ¶2. (C) The United States wanted to follow up on its relief assistance to victims of Typhoon Morokat, the Director told Premier Liu Chao-hsiuan during their September 3 introductory meeting. A Federal Emergency Management Agency representative would be in Taiwan to mark the 10th anniversary of the huge September 1999 earthquake, he said, and to discuss disaster management. The Premier welcomed the suggestion made by USAID officials who assessed Morakot relief efforts that Taiwan prepare for future emergencies by holding interagency tabletop exercises. Liu agreed with the Director's suggestion that we maintain regular dialogue on such issues. ¶3. (C) Noting that both he and President Ma had been heavily criticized by the media for their initial response to the typhoon, the Premier defended the government's relief efforts as timely and effective. Helicopters had rescued about 7,000 people living in remote villages as soon as weather permitted, he said, more than half of whom were airlifted within two days. More recently, more than 5,000 victims were transferred to temporary housing in camps previously used by soldiers involved in relief work. In total, Liu said, he had spent 10 days in the south directing post-typhoon activities; more than half of the Cabinet had joined him. ¶4. (C) Liu was likewise positive about the island's preparation for H1N1, which has received saturation media coverage here. Taiwan's experience battling SARS in 2003 had been invaluable in preparing for the latest flu onslaught, he said. Dalai Lama Invitation a Blessing in Disguise -------------- ¶5. (C) Complicating the situation in the typhoon's aftermath was the opposition Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) invitation to the Dalai Lama to come to Taiwan and console victims, Liu said. President Ma, who came under political fire for rejecting a request from the Tibetan spiritual leader to visit last year, the Premier suggested, had little choice but to accept this time. Nevertheless, the visit should not disturb warming Taiwan-China ties as long as the Dalai Lama stuck to humanitarian activities. Sooner or later, Liu said, the Ma administration would have had to agree to a Dalai Lama visit. The opposition invitation after the typhoon offered the best possible circumstances to do so with minimum offense to Beijing. Forward on Economic, Trade Issues -------------- ¶6. (C) When the Director noted that the U.S. and Taiwan were close to resolving the beef market access issue, Liu said an agreement would be "no problem." He also responded positively when Deputy Director Robert Wang said he hoped the Executive Yuan's 15-day review of the beef agreement would go smoothly. Quick resolution of beef and agriculture issues, the Director stressed, would allow the two sides to focus on the TIFA agenda. TAIPEI 00001081 002 OF 002 ¶7. (C) The Premier offered an upbeat assessment of Taiwan's recovery from the global recession, saying the island was doing "reasonably well" and did not need additional economic stimulus. Unemployment, he predicted, would peak at 6 percent and would begin to drop, albeit slowly, after September. STANTON