LATEST TAIWAN THINKING ON ICAO, WHO PARTICIPATION

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TAIPEI 001509

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP/TC AND IO/T; GENEVA FOR HOHMAN; MONTREAL FOR
ICAO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/16/2019
TAGS: EAIR PREL WHO TW
SUBJECT: LATEST TAIWAN THINKING ON ICAO, WHO PARTICIPATION

REF: A. RANK-MANN 12/18 E-MAIL

B. TAIPEI 1484

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Classified By: Director Bill Stanton for reasons 1.4(b/d)


1. (C) Summary: Taiwan believes that meaningful participation
in ICAO would include observing its decision-making bodies
and technical meetings, participating in mechanisms such as
the Public Key Directory (PKD),and being able to contact
ICAO and its Asia Pacific (APAC) office directly, according
to the Foreign Ministry official responsible for
international organizations. Taiwan hoped the United States
would offer public support for Taiwan's effort well in
advance of the September, 2010 ICAO Assembly meeting. Taiwan
also hoped to be able to make a humanitarian donation of H1N1
vaccine even as the WHO worked through the difficult
political issues involving Taiwan's participation. End
Summary.

What Is "Meaningful" ICAO Participation?
--------------


2. (C) Ministry of Foreign Affairs International
Organizations Director General Paul Chang briefed AIT Pol
Chief on December 17 on Taiwan's efforts to gain meaningful
participation in the International Civil Aviation
Organization (ICAO). Chang presented a non-paper entitled
"Taiwan seeks Observership and Meaningful Participation in
ICAO," (ref A) and made clear that participating as an
observer at the September 2010 ICAO Assembly meeting was only
one aspect of "meaningful participation." Taiwan also hoped
to observe ICAO technical meetings, participate in ICAO
mechanisms such as the Public Key Directory (PKD) and to have
direct contact with ICAO and its Asia Pacific (APAC) office.


3. (C) Between now and the September 2010 Assembly, Chang
said, Taiwan would seek support for its position from
diplomatic allies and partners, such as the United States, as
well as foreign legislatures, and NGOs and scholars. As part
of this effort, Taiwan hoped the United States would look for
specific opportunities to offer public support. The United
States was a world leader, he stressed, and other countries
would take their lead from Washington. Noting the time it
took to secure WHA observership, Chang said it was essential
to move quickly.


4. (C) Pol Chief agreed to convey Chang's points to
Washington and to confirm whether the U.S. shared Taiwan's
view of what constituted "meaningful" participation in ICAO.
MOFA had identified a point of contact for ICAO issues in its
representative office in Ottawa (ref A),Chang said, who
hoped to establish regular dialogue with a counterpart at the
U.S. Consulate General in Montreal. Chang agreed that
cross-Strait dialogue needed to play a central role in any
successful ICAO strategy.

WHO: De-Link Humanitarian from Political
--------------


5. (C) Turning to WHO issues, Chang noted that a PRC
representative in Geneva had reacted strongly to the
suggestion that Taiwan take part in the January, 2010 WHO
Executive Board meeting as an observer (ref B). A technical
expert from Taiwan's Department of Health had made this
suggestion, Chang said, not understanding that the PRC might
interpret it as politically motivated. Given the PRC
over-reaction, Taipei would not press the idea, even though
there were good technical reasons for Taiwan to take part.


6. (C) More worrisome was the contention by the PRC
representative in Geneva ("Ms. Liu") that there was a
cross-Strait agreement that Taiwan could participate in the
annual WHA meeting, but otherwise would be allowed no other
participation in WHO meetings, mechanisms and structures,
Chang said. Taiwan had not and would not agree to such a
deal, he insisted. What was not clear was whether Ms. Liu's
assertion represented her personal view or PRC policy.


7. (C) The possibility that Taiwan would be unable to
contribute H1N1 vaccines via the WHO was of more immediate
concern, Chang said. While the WHO would need to work
through some sensitive political issues, he noted, it had
handled similar problems in the past. Taiwan's Department of
Health would continue to work to have Taiwan pre-qualified to
make a donation. Chang said he hoped what was a purely
humanitarian effort would be de-linked from the thorny

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political issues that surrounded the rest of Taiwan's
involvement with the WHO.
STANTON