Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09TAIPEI1105
2009-09-10 10:02:00
CONFIDENTIAL
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Cable title:
VICE MINISTER ASKS U.S. SUPPORT FOR
how-toVZCZCXRO2329 OO RUEHCN RUEHGH RUEHVC DE RUEHIN #1105 2531002 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 101002Z SEP 09 FM AIT TAIPEI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2294 INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUEHMT/AMCONSUL MONTREAL IMMEDIATE 0010 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 0147
C O N F I D E N T I A L TAIPEI 001105
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/TC AND IO
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/09/2019
TAGS: PREL EAIR SENV UNGA TW CH
SUBJECT: VICE MINISTER ASKS U.S. SUPPORT FOR
NON-CONFRONTATIONAL UNGA APPROACH
REF: A. TAIPEI 1065
B. RANK-MANN 9/10/09 E-MAIL
Classified By: Deputy Director Robert Wang for reasons 1.4(b/d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L TAIPEI 001105
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/TC AND IO
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/09/2019
TAGS: PREL EAIR SENV UNGA TW CH
SUBJECT: VICE MINISTER ASKS U.S. SUPPORT FOR
NON-CONFRONTATIONAL UNGA APPROACH
REF: A. TAIPEI 1065
B. RANK-MANN 9/10/09 E-MAIL
Classified By: Deputy Director Robert Wang for reasons 1.4(b/d)
1. (C) Vice Foreign Minister David Lin called in DDIR
September 10 to detail Taiwan's strategy for expanding its
meaningful participation in international organizations,
programs and conventions and, in particular, its plans for
the upcoming UNGA session. Taiwan had already decided to
adopt a "more pragmatic" approach, Lin said, that was less
likely to create cross-Strait friction (see ref A for
additional background). It was no accident that Taiwan had
missed the August 15 deadline to put forward a UNGA agenda
item to the General Council, he emphasized. Instead, a group
of Taiwan's diplomatic allies would soon ask the UN
Secretariat simply to circulate a letter to UN member states,
urging them to support Taiwan's efforts. The letter, which
Lin hoped would be sent by September 15, would specifically
note the importance of Taiwan participation in meetings and
activities of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change
(UNFCCC) and the International Civil Aviation Organization
(ICAO).
2. (C) Taiwan's approach was designed to minimize friction
with the PRC, Lin said. While Taiwan hoped its allies and
possibly other UN member states would speak out in favor of
the proposal during the UNGA general debate, he said, the
approach avoided the need for any formal discussion. Lin
agreed to share a draft of the letter, which he said would be
signed by 10-12 of Taiwan's diplomatic allies, as soon as a
final text is ready. Lin provided a non-paper (ref B) from
which, he said, the substance of the letter would be taken.
3. (C) Lin expressed appreciation for the statement posted on
the USUN website during last year's UNGA session and urged
the United States to respond similarly this year. Taiwan was
making the same request of Japan, the EU and other
international partners, he said. Lin acknowledged that
achieving Taiwan's goal of expanding its participation in
ICAO and UNFCCC might take time. Lin stressed that making
concrete progress on expanding Taiwan's ability to
participate in ICAO and UNFCCC would be a long-term process.
In that regard, he thanked the United States for the key role
it played in gaining WHA observer status for Taiwan and asked
for similar help with ICAO and UNFCCC.
STANTON
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/TC AND IO
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/09/2019
TAGS: PREL EAIR SENV UNGA TW CH
SUBJECT: VICE MINISTER ASKS U.S. SUPPORT FOR
NON-CONFRONTATIONAL UNGA APPROACH
REF: A. TAIPEI 1065
B. RANK-MANN 9/10/09 E-MAIL
Classified By: Deputy Director Robert Wang for reasons 1.4(b/d)
1. (C) Vice Foreign Minister David Lin called in DDIR
September 10 to detail Taiwan's strategy for expanding its
meaningful participation in international organizations,
programs and conventions and, in particular, its plans for
the upcoming UNGA session. Taiwan had already decided to
adopt a "more pragmatic" approach, Lin said, that was less
likely to create cross-Strait friction (see ref A for
additional background). It was no accident that Taiwan had
missed the August 15 deadline to put forward a UNGA agenda
item to the General Council, he emphasized. Instead, a group
of Taiwan's diplomatic allies would soon ask the UN
Secretariat simply to circulate a letter to UN member states,
urging them to support Taiwan's efforts. The letter, which
Lin hoped would be sent by September 15, would specifically
note the importance of Taiwan participation in meetings and
activities of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change
(UNFCCC) and the International Civil Aviation Organization
(ICAO).
2. (C) Taiwan's approach was designed to minimize friction
with the PRC, Lin said. While Taiwan hoped its allies and
possibly other UN member states would speak out in favor of
the proposal during the UNGA general debate, he said, the
approach avoided the need for any formal discussion. Lin
agreed to share a draft of the letter, which he said would be
signed by 10-12 of Taiwan's diplomatic allies, as soon as a
final text is ready. Lin provided a non-paper (ref B) from
which, he said, the substance of the letter would be taken.
3. (C) Lin expressed appreciation for the statement posted on
the USUN website during last year's UNGA session and urged
the United States to respond similarly this year. Taiwan was
making the same request of Japan, the EU and other
international partners, he said. Lin acknowledged that
achieving Taiwan's goal of expanding its participation in
ICAO and UNFCCC might take time. Lin stressed that making
concrete progress on expanding Taiwan's ability to
participate in ICAO and UNFCCC would be a long-term process.
In that regard, he thanked the United States for the key role
it played in gaining WHA observer status for Taiwan and asked
for similar help with ICAO and UNFCCC.
STANTON