Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09TAIPEI1103
2009-09-10 09:16:00
CONFIDENTIAL
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Cable title:  

LY SPEAKER WANG JIN-PYNG ON TYPHOON MORAKOT

Tags:  EINV PGOV PREL TW CH SENV UN 
pdf how-to read a cable
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RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHHJJAA/JICPAC HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TAIPEI 001103 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/07/2019
TAGS: EINV PGOV PREL TW CH SENV UN
SUBJECT: LY SPEAKER WANG JIN-PYNG ON TYPHOON MORAKOT
POLITICAL FALLOUT, LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES, AND
INTERNATIONAL SPACE

REF: TAIPEI 1093

Classified By: AIT Director William A. Stanton,
for Reasons 1.4 (B) and (D).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TAIPEI 001103

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/07/2019
TAGS: EINV PGOV PREL TW CH SENV UN
SUBJECT: LY SPEAKER WANG JIN-PYNG ON TYPHOON MORAKOT
POLITICAL FALLOUT, LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES, AND
INTERNATIONAL SPACE

REF: TAIPEI 1093

Classified By: AIT Director William A. Stanton,
for Reasons 1.4 (B) and (D).


1. (C) Summary. Cross-Strait relations would not suffer
long-term or significant damage because of the Dalai Lama's
visit to Taiwan, Legislative Yuan (LY) Speaker Wang Jin-pyng
told the Director in a September 4 introductory meeting. Wang
said the invitation to the Tibetan spiritual leader issued by
local officials of the opposition Democratic Progressive
Party had revealed a lack of coordination with their party's
central office. While the sometimes chaotic response to
Typhoon Morakot had also demonstrated the need to improve
communications between central and local authorities, Wang
said, public dissatisfaction with the Government's response
would not necessarily translate into opposition gains in
December's local elections.

Political Detritus from Typhoon Morakot
--------------


2. (C) Both local and central governments should bear
responsibility for the insufficient cooperation that marked
Typhoon Morakot relief efforts, LY Speaker Wang Jin-pyng told
Director Stanton in a September 4 introductory meeting.
Public finger-pointing between local and central officials
gave the public a bad impression of the Government's overall
ability to carry out effective relief and reconstruction
operations, Wang said. Popular support for top government
leaders subsequently tumbled. (Note: Although President Ma
Ying-jeou's approval rating dipped below 20 percent, it
rebounded after the announcement of a broad Cabinet reshuffle
in which the Premier and several leading ministers resigned.
Outgoing Premier Liu Chao-shiuan's approval rating collapsed
to near single digits because of dissatisfaction over relief
efforts. End note.)

Dalai Lama Visit No Lasting Effect on Cross-Strait...
-------------- --------------


3. (C) When asked whether the Dalai Lama's visit had harmed
cross-Strait relations, Wang replied there was damage done to
the "skin, but not the bones." While Wang believed that

Beijing viewed the visit as a collusion between independence
forces in Taiwan and Tibet, the Dalai Lama had kept his
pledge to limit himself to non-political humanitarian
activities. As a result, Wang noted, Beijing had expressed
its displeasure only through the largely symbolic suspension
of a few exchanges and ceremonies. The signing of
cross-Strait agreements and their execution would proceed as
expected, the Speaker concluded.


...Domestic Political Bomb Defused
--------------


4. (C) Wang acknowledged that the invitation proferred to the
Dalai Lama by opposition officials had "dropped a political
bomb" on Taiwan. President Ma nonetheless acquitted himself
well, Wang argued. He effectively walked a fine line by
positively responding to popular support for the Tibetan
spiritual leader while assuaging China's irritation by
keeping the visit low-key.


5. (C) The invitation to the Dalai Lama had clearly also
underscored the lack of communication between DPP
headquarters and local party officials, according to Wang.
He claimed that DPP Chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen knew nothing
about the invitation from Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu and other
local DPP politicians until three hours before its
announcement, indicating her problems in maintaining party
discipline and cohesion. The Dalai Lama's popularity made it
politically impossible for Tsai to act against the renegade
party members, Wang argued, just as it made it difficult for
Ma to refuse to allow the visit given his low approval
ratings in public opinion polls after the typhoon.


TAIPEI 00001103 002 OF 002


Ma's Popularity Not an Indicator of Election Results
-------------- --------------


6. (C) The outcome of year-end local elections would not
depend on President Ma's popularity, Wang predicted. Ma had
clearly suffered in the polls because of his tepid response
to Typhoon Morakot and, therefore, his usefulness to the
election campaigns of many local KMT candidates appeared
limited, Wang said. In any event, Wang believed year-end
elections would turn on the effectiveness of the candidates
themselves, as well as on local issues. While Kuomintang
(KMT) policies still enjoyed support, multiple candidates
from the ruling party in magistrate races in Hualien,
Taidong, and Hsinchu counties could open the door to
opposition wins.

International Space
--------------


7. (C) The Speaker explained that Taiwan sought to join the
UN Framework Convention on Climate Change not only to benefit
from participation but also to contribute as a member of the
international community to managing global climate change.
Wang expressed hope that the U.S. would therefore
pro-actively support Taiwan's efforts and could persuade
China not to oppose Taiwan's participation. The Director
said the U.S. welcomed Taiwan's meaningful participation in
such organizations and eagerly awaited further information on
Taiwan's specific plans (reftel).

Legislative Priorities
--------------


8. (C) Wang said the upcoming session of the Legislative Yuan
this month would focus on budgetary issues, particularly
important given typhoon relief and reconstruction operations.
In addition, the legislature would try to prioritize
regulations governing reorganization of the Executive branch
and the reduction of CO2 emissions, issues on which the
ruling and opposition parties had the greatest chance of
reaching agreement.
STANTON