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FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3458
INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE
RUEHIN/AIT TAIPEI 6194
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BEIJING 000001 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/30/2031 
TAGS: PGOV PREL CH TW
SUBJECT: TAO VICE MINISTER RAISES CONCERNS ABOUT CHEN 
SHUI-BIAN SPEECH, CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM 
 
REF: A. NORRIS-SEDNEY 12/30 E-MAIL (NOTAL) 
     ¶B. BEIJING 3626 
 
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires David S. Sedney.  Reasons 1.4 (b/d). 
 
Summary 
------- 
 
¶1.  (C) China is concerned about Chen Shui-bian's 
"dangerous" plans to pursue de jure independence for 
Taiwan through constitutional reform and expects Chen 
to emphasize this theme in his New Year speech, Taiwan 
Affairs Office (TAO) Administrative Vice Minister 
Zheng Lizhong told the Charge December 30.  Zheng said 
Chen's secessionist maneuvering presents real danger 
to the United States-China bilateral relationship.  He 
asked the United States to act immediately to rein 
Chen in.  The Charge stressed our one-China policy 
based on the three Joint Communiques and the Taiwan 
Relations Act.  Reminding Zheng that Taiwan possesses 
a vibrant democracy, the Charge urged China to engage 
Taiwan's elected officials, including Chen and other 
DPP representatives, with a view to expanding the 
avenues of productive discussion.  End Summary. 
 
Chen's Upcoming Speech Spurs Fears 
---------------------------------- 
 
¶2.  (C) Zheng requested an urgent meeting December 30 
to repeat the same points Ambassador Zhou made to AA/S 
John via telephone in Washington on December 29.  (Ref 
A; also see para 8 for full text of the Chinese 
talking points, which both Zhou and Zheng used.) 
Zheng said that the Chinese Government has learned 
from "reliable sources" that Chen Shui-bian plans to 
use his New Years address to discuss the idea of 
constitutional reform and the launch of a so-called 
"second republic."  Zheng said Chen plans submit his 
proposals to the Legislative Yuan for deliberation 
during the first several months of 2007.  Zheng 
related that the preamble of the proposed second 
republic constitution states that Taiwan is a 
democratic republic, declares Taiwan's existing 
constitution to be "frozen," and expounds on the 
theory of "one country on each side of the strait." 
He described this strategy as the same "trick" Chen 
used on the United States in February to "abolish" the 
National Unification Council and "freeze" the NUC 
Guidelines.  Chen wants to build on this success. 
Zheng cautioned that such maneuvering risks real 
danger to the United States-China relationship and 
could harm regional and global stability.  In this 
context, Zheng said China urges the United States take 
"immediate and effective steps to stop Chen." 
 
No Change in United States Policy 
--------------------------------- 
 
¶3.  (C) The Charge told Zheng that, as President Bush 
has said, our one-China policy remains unchanged.  Our 
one-China policy is based on the three Joint 
Communiques and the Taiwan Relations Act.  We believe 
it is very important for people on both sides of the 
Taiwan Strait to engage in dialogue and discussion and 
to move toward a peaceful resolution of the Taiwan 
issue that is acceptable to both sides.  The United 
States does not support Taiwan independence and 
opposes unilateral steps from either side that change 
the status quo.  In addition, the Charge urged the 
Chinese government to engage with Taiwan's elected 
officials, including Chen Shui-bian and other DPP 
representatives, in order to expand the scope and 
content of discussions between the sides. 
 
¶4.  (C) Observing that the Chinese Government is well 
aware of the efforts the United States Government 
expended on the NUC/NUG issue last February (ref B), 
the Charge emphasized that the United States has no 
interest in the creation of a crisis or in escalating 
tensions.  As we have in the past, the United States 
will act responsibly on the Taiwan issue, the Charge 
stated. 
 
Zheng: United States Should Rein Chen In 
---------------------------------------- 
 
¶5.  (C) Zheng responded that peace and stability 
across the Taiwan Strait is the wish of all Chinese 
people, but that Chen and other Taiwan authorities 
have broken all their promises and are attempting to 
 
BEIJING 00000001  002 OF 003 
 
 
ratchet up tensions.  Moreover, they are trying to 
undermine relations between the United States and 
China.  Zheng repeated China's request that the United 
States check Chen's behavior, cautioning that if he 
proceeds with his plans, "the consequences will be 
impossible to calculate." 
 
Charge: It's Not That Simple 
---------------------------- 
 
¶6.  (C) The Charge reminded Zheng that Taiwan 
possesses a freely elected Government as well as 
freedom of the press and association.  Taiwan's 
political progress in these areas is what the United 
States supports for all peoples and has attracted 
great admiration and support in the United States. 
Taiwan's advances on rule of law issues has been 
impressive as well, the Charge said, pointing to the 
recent conviction of Chen Shui-bian's son in law on 
corruption charges as evidence of the Taiwan legal 
system's soundness.  As for Chen himself, he was 
elected in accordance with the constitution and he 
enjoys the support of constituencies in Taiwan and 
even the United States.  In this context, the Charge 
said, there are factions in the DPP who complain 
bitterly about interference in Taiwan's own affairs 
whenever the United States tries to exert influence on 
the local political process.  This is not a simple 
case of the United States being able to tell Chen what 
to do and then he does it.  The Charge reiterated that 
given the complexity and sensitivity of the situation, 
China can be assured that the United States will act 
responsibly. 
 
¶7.  (C) Zheng replied that the crux of the problem is 
that Chen is misusing Taiwan's democratic system (and 
is employing other means as well) to "realize de jure 
Taiwan independence."  The United States and China 
need to pay close attention in order to prevent Chen 
from achieving his goals and to safeguard peace and 
stability across the Strait, Zheng concluded. 
 
 
Text of Chinese Points 
---------------------- 
 
¶8.  (SBU) Begin text of Chinese talking points (Note: 
The English translation was provided to EAP/CM; Post 
has included minor edits based on the Chinese language 
text, which Zheng passed to the Charge at the end of 
the meeting.  End Note): 
 
In early November, the Chinese side briefed the United 
States side on the internal plan of Chen Shui-bian and 
the DPP regarding four different drafts for 
"constitutional reengineering," which include the 
draft for the so-called "constitution of the second 
republic."  According to reliable recent information, 
Chen has decided to promote "constitutional 
reengineering" in the form of making a "constitution 
of the second republic" and the DPP has completed the 
draft, which will be submitted to the DPP Central 
Executive Committee for discussion and decision in 
January 2007 and sponsored by DPP "legislators" and 
introduced in the "legislative yuan" in February 2007. 
Chen also plans to trumpet secessionist stances in his 
New Year address and talk directly about the 
"constitution of the second republic."  This signifies 
that Chen and his authorities have entered a highly 
dangerous period in seeking "de jure Taiwan 
independence." 
 
Chen attempts to stage the same trick he used in 
"abolishing NUC" and "freezing the NUC Guidelines" 
earlier this year.  In the name of making a 
"constitution of the second republic," he will 
continue to deceive the United States and the 
international community.  The preamble of the draft 
"constitution of the second republic" openly claims 
that "Taiwan is a democratic republic," that the 
existing constitution will be frozen and that the 
theory of "one country on each side of the Taiwan 
Strait" is incorporated into the draft.  This is an 
attempt at de jure secession from Chen, which is aimed 
at "de dure independence." 
 
We wish to draw the United States' attention to the 
fact that Chen is employing various tactics to 
accelerate the making of a "constitution of the second 
republic."  This shows that he has completely 
 
BEIJING 00000001  003 OF 003 
 
 
abandoned his commitment to the United States and the 
international community on the "four no's" and his 
pledge that the "constitutional reengineering" will 
not make changes to "sovereignty and territory."  Even 
if he had to shelf the "constitution of the second 
republic" for the time being, he would try every means 
to insert its substance into other packages.  The 
experience of the "abolition of the NUC and its 
Guidelines" has made Chen and other secessionists 
believe that the "second republic" is marketable in 
the United States, who will accept a "constitution of 
the second republic" or other similar plans in the 
end. 
 
Taiwan has been the sacred territory of China since 
ancient times.  Taiwan has never been a country.  The 
1.3 billion Chinese people will never allow anyone to 
make Taiwan secede from China in any form.  We are 
prepared for the worst case scenario.  If Chen takes 
desperate reckless steps, we would have to take 
resolute measures. 
 
We have taken note that, in order to safeguard the 
overall interests of China-United States relations, 
the United States has taken measures to restrain 
Chen's adventurous moves of seeking "de jure Taiwan 
independence" through "constitutional reengineering." 
However, Chen Shui-bian is a reckless politician 
without any credibility.  Whatever the consequence, he 
will go headlong to seek "de jure Taiwan 
independence."  If he were not effectively restrained, 
there could be an enormous shock to the China-United 
States relationship, which would gravely threaten 
peace in the Asia Pacific region and the rest of the 
world.  The Chinese side strongly urges the United 
States side to fully recognize the provocation, 
gravity and danger of the above-mentioned "Taiwan 
independence" moves of Chen Shui-bian and take 
immediate and effective measures to stop him.  China 
and the United States should increase communication 
and cooperation and work together to prevent major 
incidents of "Taiwan independence" and maintain peace 
in the Taiwan Strait.  This serves the fundamental 
interests of both countries and peoples. 
 
End text. 
 
SEDNEY