Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09TAIPEI276
2009-03-12 10:27:00
CONFIDENTIAL
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Cable title:  

VFM HSIA ON CROSS-STRAIT TIES, FTA, VWP,

Tags:  ETRD PGOV PREL KJUS WHO TW CH 
pdf how-to read a cable
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FM AIT TAIPEI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1107
INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 9002
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 0060
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 0588
RUEHCN/AMCONSUL CHENGDU 3008
RUEHGZ/AMCONSUL GUANGZHOU 0154
RUEHHK/AMCONSUL HONG KONG 0454
RUEHGH/AMCONSUL SHANGHAI 2464
RUEHSH/AMCONSUL SHENYANG 6957
RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RHHJJAA/JICPAC HONOLULU HI
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHHMUNA/USPACOM HONOLULU HI
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TAIPEI 000276 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/11/2019
TAGS: ETRD PGOV PREL KJUS WHO TW CH
SUBJECT: VFM HSIA ON CROSS-STRAIT TIES, FTA, VWP,
EXTRADITION, AND BEEF

Classified By: AIT Director Stephen M. Young,
Reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TAIPEI 000276

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/11/2019
TAGS: ETRD PGOV PREL KJUS WHO TW CH
SUBJECT: VFM HSIA ON CROSS-STRAIT TIES, FTA, VWP,
EXTRADITION, AND BEEF

Classified By: AIT Director Stephen M. Young,
Reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Summary. Taiwan appreciates U.S. support, including
Secretary Clinton's comments concerning its defense needs,
Vice Foreign Minister Hsia told the Director during a March
11 meeting. Hsia expressed optimism about the prospects for
obtaining WHA observer status, but admitted that he was not
aware of formal discussions with Beijing on the issue.
Taiwan understands that there is no short-term prospect for
concluding a free trade agreement or joining the visa waiver
program, but will continue to take steps to improve its case
for both. Taipei hopes to move more quickly on extradition,
however. The Director emphasized the need to open Taiwan's
market to all U.S. beef, noting that Health Minister Yeh's
recent comment that "U.S. beef is safer than smoking" was not
helpful. End Summary.

Cross-Strait Ties
--------------


2. (C) During a March 11 meeting with the Director, VFM
Andrew Hsia expressed appreciation for statements in support
of Taiwan by Obama administration officials. In particular,
Hsia cited the Secretary's comment to the press en route to
Asia last month concerning the continued need for security
assistance for Taiwan. Hsia agreed that the support of the
people was critical for any long-term solution to
cross-Strait issues. To this end, Hsia said, Taiwan needs to
see tangible results from President Ma's efforts to improve
ties with China. Taiwan's near-term goal is to obtain
observer status at the World Health Assembly (WHA). Hsia
expressed optimism about Taiwan's prospects, but admitted
that formal discussions had not yet begun. While NSC
Secretary General Su Chi is directly responsible for this
issue, Hsia said, MOFA would have to iron out a number of
details. Doing so will take time, he emphasized, so it is
important that discussions begin as soon as possible. The
United States strongly supports Taiwan's efforts to secure
meaningful participation in organizations like the WHO, the
Director said, and was ready to assist as necessary. While

Beijing would object to pressure from "outside parties," Hsia
commented, it will be important to remind China that others
are watching with interest.


3. (C) How an agreement is implemented will also be
important, Hsia said. He noted that at the recent UN
Committee on the Status of Women meeting in New York, several
private citizens of Taiwan were denied access when UN
security insisted they present photo IDs issued by a member
state. While some of the participants were able to use U.S.
drivers licenses to gain entrance, the rest were turned away.
Though it is not clear that Beijing was actively involved in
this episode, Hsia expressed concern that similar
technicalities would complicate Taiwan's participation in
other international fora.

Free Trade Agreement, Visa Waiver and Extradition Treaty
-------------- --------------


4. (C) Hsia conceded that two of the three priorities in U.S.
relations cited by President Ma in a recent New York Times
interview will be difficult to achieve in the short term.
The VFM expressed understanding about the challenge of
pursuing a free trade agreement (FTA),but expressed hope
that both sides could work on less ambitious agreements to
facilitate bilateral trade. Hsia acknowledged that several
domestic issues (i.e. high refusal rates and concerns about
the security of the Taiwan passport) need to be resolved
before Taiwan would meet the minimum threshold for
consideration for visa waiver. Nevertheless, he said, Taiwan
will work to address these issues to position itself for
possible consideration for VWP in the future. Taiwan is
realistic, knows it has work to do, and is under no illusion
that FTA or VWP will happen anytime soon. Taipei, however,
wants to be in a psition to conclude either agreement
quickly once the time is right, according to Hsia.


5. (C) Law enforcement cooperation under the Mutual Legal

TAIPEI 00000276 002 OF 002


Assistance Agreement is encouraging, Hsia said, and would be
enhanced by a formal extradition agreement. He assured the
Director that Taiwan's justice system, though imperfect, was
apolitical. He noted that some prosecutors in the case
against former President Chen Shui-bian had been appointed by
the previous administration and that they were only following
the evidence. Hsia accepted the point that Taiwan needed to
make its judicial system more transparent to its own people
and the international community to show that it is sound and
credible.

Beef
--------------


7. (C) Hsia agreed that Health Minister Yeh's recent comment
that eating U.S. beef is safer than smoking was not helpful,
but offered his sense that market opening was a question of
"when," not "if." Although not directly involved in the
issue, he expressed optimism that it would be solved soon,
noting that it is not a complicated issue. The Director
emphasized the importance of removing what was becoming a
major irritant in the trade relationship as quickly as
possible. (NOTE: Minister Yeh explained in a subsequent
meeting with the Director on March 12 that his words were
taken out of context. Yeh insisted he had noted that eating
beef for one's entire lifetime is safer than smoking one
cigarette. END NOTE)
YOUNG