AIT CHAIRMAN BURGHARDT'S MARCH 16 MEETING WITH

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TAIPEI 000308 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/19/2019 TAGS: PREL PGOV ECON CH TW SUBJECT: AIT CHAIRMAN BURGHARDT'S MARCH 16 MEETING WITH TAIWAN LY PRESIDENT WANG JIN-PYNG Classified By: AIT Acting Director Robert S. Wang for reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d) Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) In a March 16 meeting with Legislative Yuan (LY) President Wang Jin-pyng, AIT Chairman Raymond Burghardt underscored U.S. security commitments to Taiwan and urged prompt legislative approval of Taiwan's WTO GPA accession. Wang expressed appreciation for continued U.S. support for Taiwan's defense needs. Despite legislators' concerns over "buy American" provisions of the U.S. stimulus package, Wang said, the legislature should approve Taiwan's GPA accession soon. Against a backdrop of warming cross-Strait ties, Wang expressed frustration that the Ma Administration is skirting requirements to present cross-Strait agreements to the LY for debate and consideration prior to signing. End Summary. U.S. Committed to Taiwan Relationship -------------- ¶2. (C) Chairman Burghardt opened the meeting by expressing the good will of the incoming Obama administration and emphasizing that Deputy Secretary Steinberg and Deputy National Security Advisor Donilon had asked him to convey the Obama Administration's commitment to further strengthening all aspects of the U.S.-Taiwan relationship. During her recent trip to Asia, he noted, Secretary Clinton reaffirmed publicly Asia's importance to the United States and, in her meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Yang, privately stressed the U.S. belief that arms sales to Taiwan contribute to cross-Strait stability. Wang voiced his appreciation for continued U.S. support and noted what a special experience it was for him to attend the Obama inauguration in January. Cross-Strait Talks and Domestic Politics -------------- ¶3. (C) In response to a question on the status of cross-Strait talks, Wang noted that the then-President Chen Shui-bian designated him to negotiate with China on the three links (air and sea travel, and postal links),financial supervision and investments and student exchanges. These negotiations were complete but, because Beijing did not want Chen to benefit from the agreements and because the KMT feared supporting them would hurt then-candidate Ma Ying-jeou,s presidential election chances, the accords were never signed, Wang said. Thus, Wang asserted, the work he did at the time allowed Ma to conclude and sign the pacts soon after assuming power. However, he complained, the administration did not properly present the agreements to the LY for debate, as stipulated by law. As a result, average people do not feel their voices have been heard. This is why, Wang said, he is insisting the proposed Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) be presented to the LY. ECFA and Cross-Strait Politics -------------- ¶4. (C) Asked what Taiwan wants from an ECFA, Wang said he saw ECFA as an economic and investment framework to allow Taipei and Beijing to work together outside of the WTO structure. This would alleviate Beijing's concerns that using the WTO framework would give the appearance of a state-to-state relationship. Wang stressed, however, that regardless what Chinese leaders say or how nice they are to Taiwan, their common goal is unification. Therefore, Taiwan must be conscious of the impact of cross-Strait talks on its sovereignty. Defense Needs -------------- ¶5. (C) Noting media reports of Wang's statement that the U.S. has decided not to sell F-16 C/Ds to Taiwan, the Chairman stressed the Obama administration will review all of Taiwan's defensive needs and had ruled nothing out. The Speaker did not respond directly, noting only that Taiwan's security needs came up in President Ma's recent Monday policy lunch with Vice President Siew, Premier Liu, and KMT Chair Wu and himself and saying Taiwan hopes the U.S. will look favorably on requests for additional equipment. TAIPEI 00000308 002 OF 002 GPA --- ¶6. (C) The Chairman urged prompt legislative approval of Taiwan's accession to the WTO,s Government Procurement Agreement (GPA),noting that with its passage, Taiwan will be sheltered from the "buy American" provisions of the U.S. stimulus package. Wang pointed out that the "buy American" provision was holding up legislative action on the GPA but said he expected the issue to be worked out shortly. Participants -------------- ¶7. (U) Wang was accompanied by LY Secretariat Officer Yao (translator). Chairman Burghardt was accompanied by the Deputy Director, EAP/TC Director Ted Mann, AIT PolOff Angelo Chang (notetaker). ¶8. (U) Chairman Burghardt did not have an opportunity to clear this message. YOUNG