US embassy cable - 04TAIPEI3353

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TAIPEI 003353 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE PASS AIT/W 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/10/2013 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, TW 
SUBJECT: FOREIGN MINISTER ASKS FOR CLARIFICATION OF 
SECRETARY'S MEDIA INTERVIEW 
 
 
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Classified By: AIT Director Douglas Paal, Reason: 1.4 (B/D) 
 
1. (C) Summary: Foreign Minister Mark Chen asked the AIT 
Director to a meeting October 26 to seek clarification over a 
set of interviews given by Secretary Powell in Beijing on 
October 24.  Chen said the Secretary's reported statements on 
eventual reunification and Taiwan's lack of sovereignty 
deeply "hurt the feelings of the Taiwanese people" and 
appeared to be a departure from past U.S. policies and 
commitments.  Chen requested that the USG make further public 
clarifications over the matter in order to avoid further 
damage to the relationship.  The Director responded that 
there has been no change in U.S. policy nor did the Secretary 
intend to signal one.  He added that the Secretary's visit to 
Beijing was aimed at advancing cross-Strait dialogue and 
defending Taiwan's right to participate in APEC and the World 
Health Organization (WHO).  The Director cautioned, however, 
that repeated public statements over Taiwan's sovereignty led 
reporters to press the Secretary on the question of Taiwan's 
sovereignty, an issue we have long sought to avoid speaking 
about openly.  End Summary. 
 
Clarification, Not a Protest 
---------------------------- 
 
2. (C) Foreign Minister Mark Chen asked the AIT Director in 
for an urgent meeting October 26 regarding a set of 
interviews Secretary Powell gave on October 24 in Beijing. 
Chen emphasized that the meeting was to seek further 
clarification, and he did not intend to deliver a formal 
protest.  Chen noted that the government was under intense 
pressure from the media and Legislative Yuan (LY) over the 
Secretary's statement that Taiwan was not a sovereign 
 
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independent country and suggestion that the USG supports 
eventual unification.  Chen stated that the reason the 
Secretary's statements had caused so much harm to the Taiwan 
 
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people was that they came from the United States, Taiwan's 
best friend.  "If it was China or anyone else, we could 
understand it," he added, "but coming from the United States, 
it is a deep shock."  Chen said he was especially surprised 
that the U.S. made such a "heavy" statement after months of 
effort on Taipei's part to reopen dialogue with Beijing. 
 
Violation of the Six Assurances? 
-------------------------------- 
 
3. (C) Chen noted that the State Department Spokesman's 
October 25 clarification addressed Taipei's concern over the 
reference to reunification.  Chen asserted, however, that the 
Secretary's remarks about Taiwan's sovereignty appeared to 
 
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violate the "Six Assurances" provided to Taiwan by the United 
States in 1982.  Chen said that he could tell the media and 
public that U.S. policy has not changed, but no one would 
believe him because the Secretary's statement on Taiwan's 
sovereignty did depart from the long-standing USG practice of 
remaining silent on the issue of Taiwan's status.  Chen 
asserted that the Secretary's statement would undermine the 
Taipei government's attempts to build a consensus behind 
renewed dialogue with Beijing and give the PRC less reason to 
engage with Taipei. 
 
4. (C) The Director responded that the "Six Assurances" only 
committed the United States not to change its position on 
Taiwan's status, not whether or not it would state what that 
position is.  He noted that the Secretary's statement that 
Taiwan is not a sovereign, independent country reflects a 
policy that has been in place since 1978.  The Director 
acknowledged that we try to avoid having to publicly explain 
our position, but pointed out that Taiwan's status only 
became a major public issue after President Chen Shui-bian 
and other senior Taiwan officials repeatedly drew attention 
to it.  The Director reminded FM Chen that the Secretary's 
comments came in response to a quite specific question about 
whether the U.S. endorsed President Chen's recent assertion 
that Taiwan is a sovereign and independent country.  He added 
that Taipei's insistence on this formulation has also 
provided Beijing an excuse not to respond to Taiwan's recent 
offers to restart dialogue. 
 
Managing the Media 
------------------ 
5. (C) The Foreign Minister said he took the Director's 
point, but stated that "it is too much to ask" for President 
Chen or his ministers to deny they represent a sovereign and 
independent country.  However, Chen insisted that the most 
important task at hand was to prevent the episode from 
further damaging the relationship.  In this context, Chen 
requested that the Secretary "or one of his deputies" find an 
opportunity in the coming days to fully clarify the U.S. 
position. 
 
6. (C) The Director said he would convey this request, but 
suggested that Chen and other Taiwan leaders take a more 
active role in shaping the public response.  The Director 
noted that the purpose of the Secretary's visit to Beijing 
was not to give media interviews, but to press Beijing on 
issues of concern to Taipei.  In addition to encouraging 
Beijing to respond positively to President Chen's October 10 
address, the Director said the Secretary pressed PRC leaders 
on Taipei's participation in APEC and the WHO and restated 
that we would not yield to demands to cease arms sales.  The 
Director asserted that if Taiwan focuses on the positive 
elements of the relationship, it will demonstrate the 
strength of ties between the two sides.  However, if it 
dwells on issues where we differ, such as Taiwan's status, it 
will only increase attention to differences. 
 
Media Groundrules 
----------------- 
 
7. (C) Chen said that he would be talking to the media later 
in the day, but promised to keep the Director's meeting out 
of the press.  However, as the meeting closed, there was a 
reporter waiting outside of Chen's office to take still 
photos of the Director and Foreign Minister departing.  AIT 
will report media reaction Septel. 
 
Comment: Damage Control Overdrive 
--------------------------------- 
 
8. (C) The Foreign Minister and other senior officials remain 
in a high state of agitation over the media and political 
fallout from the Secretary's interview.  FM Chen was clearly 
seeking a more public USG clarification of the Secretary's 
remarks rather than insights into why they may have been 
made.  Chen did acknowledge the broader policy context, but 
only after several attempts were made to frame the issue for 
him.  Even then, however, his mind was focused on how to get 
the issue off the front pages before his next appearance 
before the LY and how to phrase the U.S. stance to his boss, 
President Chen. 
PAAL