US embassy cable - 05TAIPEI2077

C O N F I D E N T I A L TAIPEI 002077 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE PASS AIT/WASHINGTON 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/06/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, ASEC, TW, Cross Strait Politics 
SUBJECT: CHEN SCORES SMALL VICTORY WITH FIJI VISIT 
 
 
Classified By: AIT Director Douglas H. Paal, Reason 1.4 (b/d) 
 
1. (C) President Chen Shui-bian achieved a small symbolic 
victory when he made an unannounced visit on May 4 to Fiji, 
which officially recognizes the PRC.  Following his scheduled 
three stop South Pacific island tour to visit Taiwan 
diplomatic partners Kiribati, the Marshal Islands, and 
Tuvalu, President Chen flew to Fiji, bypassing his planned 
transit stop in Guam.  Rumors had been swirling about Fiji 
before Chen's departure, but officials kept the trip under 
close hold and only revealed details of the visit once Chen 
was in route to Suva May 4.  Taiwan officials told AIT they 
kept details of the visit secret because of fears that 
Beijing would try to pressure Suva not to allow Chen to 
visit. 
 
2. (C) Fiji officially recognizes Beijing and Chen's visit is 
likely to upset the PRC.  However, according to Ministry of 
Foreign Affairs (MOFA) North American Affairs Director 
General Victor Chin, Suva has maintained close unofficial 
relations with Taipei for many years.  Chin noted that during 
the 1990s Fiji permitted several senior KMT government 
officials, including then-Vice President Lien Chan and 
then-Premier Vincent Siew, to visit Fiji.  Suva's official 
government policy has been to maintain good ties with both 
Beijing and Taipei.  According to MOFA spokesman Michel Lu, 
President Chen did not visit Fiji to discuss the normalizing 
of relations with Taiwan, but to transit the country and hold 
discussions on subjects of mutual interest to both 
governments.  MOFA officials privately dismissed the 
possibility that Suva would switch relations to Taipei. 
 
3. (C) Comment.  President Chen's trip to Fiji does represent 
a small quasi-diplomatic victory and morale boost for his 
administration, particularly in the wake of KMT Chairman Lien 
Chan and PFP Chairman James Soong's trips to the PRC.  Fiji 
is not likely to suffer more than verbal protests from 
Beijing because Chen's visit was relatively low key and Suva 
did not discuss switching ties in favor of Taiwan.  However, 
the fact that Chen had to keep his visit secret until the 
last minute underscores Taiwan's concern over advantages 
Beijing has over Taipei in the international diplomatic chess 
match currently being played in the South Pacific.  End 
comment. 
PAAL