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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TAIPEI 001065 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/TC AND IO 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/31/2019 
TAGS: PREL PGOV CVIS ECON ETRD EAIR SENV UNGA TW US
SUBJECT: FOREIGN MINISTER URGES PROGRESS ON BILATERAL TIES, 
OUTLINES UNGA STRATEGY IN DIRECTOR'S INTRODUCTORY CALL 
 
TAIPEI 00001065  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
Classified By: The Director for reasons 1.4(b/d) 
 
¶1. (C) Summary. Taiwan hopes the restoration of mutual trust 
in the bilateral relationship will result in concrete 
progress on bilateral issues, Foreign Minister Ou Hong-lien 
told the Director during their introductory meeting.  The 
Director said the United States also wants to deepen the 
relationship, including by making progress on the 
construction of AIT's New Office Compound (NOC).  Ou cited 
ICAO and the UNFCCC as Taiwan's top priorities for expanding 
its participation in international organizations, but 
admitted the initial PRC response had not been encouraging. 
End Summary. 
 
Both Sides Ready to Move Forward 
-------------------------------- 
 
¶2. (C) There is a "new willingness" in Washington to move 
forward with U.S.-Taiwan relations, the Director told Foreign 
Minister Ou Hong-lien during his August 30 introductory call. 
 Noting that it was his first official meeting since arriving 
on Taiwan, the Director said he had clear instructions to 
work to strengthen and deepen ties.  Thanks to the 
contributions of many people, Ou said, our relations were 
moving in the right direction.  The Ma administration has 
been working to rebuild mutual trust, and now hoped to draw 
on that trust to achieve concrete results that would bring 
benefits to both sides. 
 
¶3. (C) MOFA and TECRO have been effective in laying out the 
Ma administration's specific goals, the Director said, 
including negotiating an extradition agreement and securing 
Taiwan's admission to the visa waiver program.  The Taiwan 
Relations Act gave us a solid basis to move forward, he 
stressed, noting that the United States had already begun 
interagency discussions of a possible extradition agreement. 
The Director emphasized the importance of the NOC project in 
Neihu, observing that he had visited the site of the project 
on his first day on Taiwan.  Although it would take time to 
complete the NOC, he said, the U.S. investment was an 
important symbol of the strength of our unofficial 
relationship with Taiwan. 
 
¶4. (C) Ou expressed appreciation for U.S. assistance in the 
aftermath of Typhoon Morakot.  The people of Taiwan saw the 
quick U.S. response as a clear demonstration of our long 
friendship, he said.  Both sides had helped each other in 
times of need, the Director underscored, noting Taiwan's 
contributions to the relief efforts in the wake of hurricane 
Katrina.  AIT would continue to help, as needed, he said, 
including by briefing MOFA on the results of USAID officials' 
assessments of their recent trips as soon as these reports 
were available. 
 
PRC Not Encouraging on International Space 
------------------------------------------ 
 
¶5. (C) Ou briefed the Director on efforts to increase 
Taiwan's participation in international organizations, noting 
that ICAO and UNFCCC were now Taipei's top priorities.  With 
so many cross-Strait flights now taking place, Ou said, it 
was essential that Taiwan have a reliable channel to discuss 
aviation security issues.  Likewise, Taiwan was keenly 
interested in efforts to combat climate change and wanted to 
be a part of the solution.  MOFA had already consulted with 
the United States on these issues, Ou said, and was working 
with its diplomatic allies on a letter, to be circulated at 
this year's UNGA, laying out Taiwan's position.  Of course, 
Ou emphasized, dialogue behind the scenes would be key. 
 
¶6. (C) Increasing Taiwan's meaningful participation in 
international organizations was in everyone's interest, the 
Director agreed, and a particularly strong case could be made 
for ICAO and UNFCCC.  While the United States would help to 
the extent possible, the PRC's attitude would of course be a 
key factor in the success of this effort, he stressed.  Ou 
confirmed that Taiwan had raised the idea with Beijing, but 
admitted that the PRC response had "not been encouraging." 
 
¶7. (C) Comment: In a September 1 meeting with the Director 
(septel), President Ma reconfirmed the decision to have 
 
TAIPEI 00001065  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
diplomatic allies make a statement during UNGA endorsing 
Taiwan's desire and need to participate in ICAO and the 
UNFCCC.   There is no expectation here that this effort will 
succeed in the near future in the face of PRC opposition. 
Using the UNGA to lay out Taiwan's goals should, however, 
make it clear to all where Taipei plans to focus its 
attention, and - perhaps more importantly - will help the 
adminstration head off domestic criticism that President Ma 
has ceded the UN completely to the PRC. 
STANTON