US embassy cable - 05TAIPEI2566

C O N F I D E N T I A L TAIPEI 002566 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/10/2030 
TAGS: CH, ETRD, PREL, TW, Cross Strait Politics 
SUBJECT: PREMIER TO SPEAK ON CROSS-STRAITS 
 
 
Classified By: AIT Deputy Director David J. Keegan. Reasons E.O. 12958 
sec. 1.4 (b,d). 
 
 1. (C)     Mainland Affairs Council Chairman Joseph Wu 
called AIT Deputy Director at about Friday, June 10, to say 
that Premier Hsieh Chang-ting will be in Taichung Monday to 
celebrate the Dragoon Boat Festival. He will give a speech 
that express Taiwan's willingness to move forward on three 
issues: tourism, cargo charters, and agricultural trade. Wu 
stressed that Taiwan would be seeking to move negotiations 
forward on these issues, and he thought that Washington and 
we would be pleased with Taiwan's approach. 
 
2. (C)      Wu noted that he had told NSC officials and 
others when he visited Washington in March that Taiwan would 
likely need a three to six month observation period after 
Beijing's passage of the Anti-Secession Law before it would 
be again ready to deal with the PRC on such matters. This 
speech is intended to mark the end of that observation period. 
 
3. (C)      DDIR thanked Wu for his call and expressed our 
thought that flexibility was essential on both sides. These 
kinds of practical measures could prove very important 
building blocks to enhance stability and provide benefits to 
both sides. DDIR noted that he hoped we would hear a 
different tone from some of the negative statements on 
cross-Strait initiatives that we had heard from the Taiwan 
side in recent weeks. He expressed concern at Wu's own 
repeated insistence that no progress was possible unless 
there were government to government negotiations. The success 
of the cross-Strait charter flights over Chinese New Year was 
the result of Taiwan flexibility toward representation by 
non-governmental commercial associations. 
 
4. (C)      Wu promised to send AIT a draft of the speech 
although he said it might only be available Monday morning. 
DDIR said that earlier would be welcome and added that I 
would be available all weekend. He promised to convey Wu's 
message to Washington. 
PAAL