US embassy cable - 05TAIPEI2750

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 TAIPEI 002750 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE PASS AIT/WASHINGTON 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/20/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, ASEC, TW 
SUBJECT: TAIWAN ASSERTS VATICAN SUBTLY SIGNALING BEIJING 
 
 
Classified By: AIT Director Douglas H. Paal, Reason 1.4 (b/d) 
 
1. (C) Summary: Taiwan officials contend that the Holy See 
and Pope Benedict XVI are subtly encouraging Beijing to 
resume an official dialogue, which was suspended by the PRC 
in 2000.  While there has been no progress in the deadlock 
over Beijing's refusal to allow the Vatican complete 
jurisdiction over the Catholic Church in the PRC, Ministry of 
Foreign Affairs (MOFA) officials say the Vatican's refusal to 
allow President Chen Shui-bian to attend Pope Benedict XVI's 
inauguration and the Pope's speech encouraging a more open 
foreign policy were intended to placate Beijing. 
Taipei-based Vatican officials maintain that Pope Benedict 
XVI's approach towards Beijing is consistent with the Holy 
See's long-standing policy to recognize Beijing and 
characterize the widespread media speculation surrounding 
Vatican-PRC ties as sensationalist.  MOFA and Vatican 
officials do agree, however, that a near-term breakthrough in 
Holy See-Beijing relations is unlikely and that Taipei's 
diplomatic ties with the Holy See will remain stable in the 
near term.  End summary. 
 
Vatican Has Long Sought PRC Ties 
-------------------------------- 
 
2. (C) The Vatican has long sought to reestablish diplomatic 
relations with the PRC since Beijing severed ties with the 
Holy See in 1949.  The Vatican's Charge d' Affairs in Taipei, 
Monsignor Ambrose Madtha, told AIT that he is puzzled by the 
media's speculation that the new Pope Benedict XVI, is 
pursuing a new policy to recognize Beijing.  Madtha noted 
that it was the PRC that severed diplomatic ties with the 
Vatican and it was Beijing that cut off dialogue with the 
Holy See in 2000.  Madtha remarked that the Holy See has 
always wanted and needs diplomatic ties with Beijing for the 
sake of the Church's estimated 10 million Catholics in the 
PRC.  While the Holy See appreciates Taiwan's human rights 
record and its democratic government, Madtha explained, there 
are only about 300,000 Catholics in Taiwan.  He pointed out 
that Pope John Paul II always wanted to open up diplomatic 
ties with the PRC and had hoped to travel to Beijing to 
achieve a breakthrough. 
 
3. (C) Madtha dismissed the wave of media reports of 
impending changes in PRC-Vatican relations and complained 
about coverage of Hong Kong Bishop Zen's comments regarding 
the Vatican's desire to recognize the PRC.  Madtha asserted 
that the press had misinterpreted Bishop Zen's comments and 
that his views simply were a reiteration of long-standing 
Vatican policies towards the PRC.  Madtha also criticized the 
media's reaction to Pope Benedict XVI's inaugural speech, in 
which the Pope said that the Holy See is eager to recognize 
nations that have not yet established ties with the Vatican. 
Madtha argued that the media exaggerated the story and 
insisted that the Pope's remarks merely reaffirmed the 
Vatican's long-standing policy of maintaining diplomatic ties 
with all nations around the world, including the PRC. 
MOFA Sees Subtle Vatican Hints 
------------------------------ 
 
4. (C) MOFA officials insist, however, that the Holy See and 
Pope Benedict XVI are sending subtle signals to the PRC that 
the time is right to renew talks over diplomatic recognition. 
 MOFA's Director General for European Affairs, Larry Wang, 
told AIT that it is no secret that the Vatican wishes to 
renew diplomatic ties with Beijing because of the large 
number Catholics in the PRC.  Wang noted that the Holy See 
allowed President Chen to remain in the Vatican for only one 
day to attend Pope John Paul II's funeral.  In addition, Wang 
said that the Holy See asked President Chen and other senior 
Taiwan officials not to attend the inauguration of Pope 
Benedict XVI "for the sake of future Vatican-Taiwan 
relations." Wang insisted that these restrictions on Taiwan 
were intended to send a message to Beijing.  So, too, the 
Vatican's Foreign Minister Archbishop Giovanni Lajolo's 
statement on June 23 that there are no insurmountable 
difficulties in reestablishing ties with the PRC, appears to 
reinforce that message to Beijing. 
 
5. (C) Wang added that while official Vatican policy toward 
Beijing remains unchanged, Beijing likely views Pope Benedict 
XVI as more moderate than Pope John Paul II.  Wang pointed 
out that Pope Benedict XVI is focused on fundamental Church 
reform in contrast to Pope John Paul II's mission to combat 
communism and encourage human rights around the world.  Wang 
also argued that Pope Benedict XVI's inaugural speech 
signaled a new opening in the Holy See's foreign policy 
strategy.  As a result, Wang assessed that the Holy See's 
steps could create a new PRC perception of the Holy See that 
could lead to a renewed dialogue and possibly eventual 
compromise on the critical issue of Vatican control of Church 
affairs in the PRC.  Wang noted that Taiwan's Legislative 
Yuan in May recalled Taiwan's Ambassador to the Vatican back 
to Taipei to report on the status of Taiwan's relationship 
with the Vatican and to answer questions. 
 
6. (C) The main roadblock to PRC-Vatican ties remains the 
issue of the Holy See's authority over the Catholic Church in 
the PRC and its jurisdiction over the Bishop appointment 
process.  The Holy See's Madtha explained that under Vatican 
law, the Congregation for Bishops appoint all Bishops and the 
Holy See has ultimate authority over Church affairs 
worldwide.  Madtha told AIT that Beijing claims this is 
unacceptable interference in its internal affairs and has 
refused to cede Church control or the authority to appoint 
Bishops to the Holy See.  Madtha opined that the PRC is 
fearful the Vatican would have too much authority and 
influence.  He told AIT that the Holy See has tried to assure 
Beijing without success that all candidates for Bishop 
undergo a thorough selection and review process to ensure 
they are qualified for the position and that the Church is 
not a political entity. 
 
But Vatican-PRC Deal Not Imminent 
--------------------------------- 
 
7. (C) MOFA's Wang told AIT that while he expects Beijing and 
the Holy See to resume a dialogue in the near term, it will 
take considerable time before they achieve an agreement to 
establish diplomatic relations.  He said that Taipei's 
Ambassador to the Holy See recently met with the Vatican's 
Foreign Minister Archbishop Lajolo and was told that 
Taiwan-Vatican ties are stable.  Wang noted that Taiwan had 
just moved into a new building in Vatican City, signing a 12 
year lease with the Holy See and hoped that this reflected 
the stability of their ties.  Wang acknowledged, however, 
that the Holy See told Taiwan that it fully intends to switch 
diplomatic ties when Beijing accepts Vatican authority, but 
promised to keep Taiwan informed so that recognition of the 
PRC will not, when the time comes, be a surprise. 
 
8. (C) The Vatican's Madtha offered a similar assessment and 
told AIT that he does not expect Beijing and the Vatican to 
reach an agreement in the near term.  No informal dialogue 
exists at this time, he noted, since Beijing broke off 
discussions in 2000 and as far as he knows, the PRC has not 
taken any steps to resume the dialogue or compromise on its 
positions regarding Vatican control of the Church.  Even when 
a dialogue is re-established, Madtha stated that it will 
still take time to resolve the outstanding issues.  While he 
has no solid information on a time-line, he noted that some 
China watchers have speculated that perhaps the PRC will make 
a move in 2008 to accept some of the Vatican's conditions for 
recognition. 
 
Comment: Taiwan Has Few Options 
------------------------------- 
 
9. (C) Despite the Vatican's praise of Taiwan's democracy and 
its human rights record, it is only a matter of time before 
the Holy See establishes diplomatic ties with the PRC.  MOFA 
is pessimistic about the long term prospects for 
Taiwan-Vatican relations, particularly given the Holy See's 
decision to block President Chen from attending the Pope 
Benedict XVI's inauguration.  Although Taiwan's relations 
with the Holy See are largely symbolic, they have long been a 
source of pride for Taiwan and is very important for the 
government as it is Taipei's only diplomatic partner in 
Europe.  Although the question of when Beijing and the Holy 
See will resume diplomatic ties remains uncertain, what is 
certain is that Taiwan has been relegated to a spectator and 
must stand idly by while the PRC and the Vatican determine 
Taipei's diplomatic fate. 
PAAL