US embassy cable - 05TAIPEI4060

C O N F I D E N T I A L TAIPEI 004060 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE PASS AIT/W 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/30/2015 
TAGS: TBIO, EAGR, ECON, PREL, TW, KSTH, WHO 
SUBJECT: TAIWAN SUPPORTS INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIP ON AVIAN 
AND PANDEMIC INFLUENZA 
 
REF: STATE 175585 
 
Classified By: AIT DIRECTOR DOUGLAS PAAL, REASONS 1.4 (b and d) 
 
1. (C) Summary:  In a series of meetings on September 28-30, 
AIT briefed senior Taiwan officials from the National 
Security Council (NSC), Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), 
and Department of Health (DOH) on the U.S. initiative to 
establish the International Partnership on Avian and Pandemic 
Influenza (IPAPI) (Reftel).  Acting Director explained to NSC 
Secretary General Chiou I-jen that the need for PRC 
 
SIPDIS 
participation in the initiative means we will have to work 
with Taiwan on the side, for example, through bilateral 
cooperative programs.  Chiou expressed appreciation for the 
information and suggested that Taiwan might be able to make a 
contribution through WHO technical meetings.  End Summary. 
 
 
NSC 
--- 
 
2.  (C) AIT Acting Director discussed the U.S. IPAPI 
initiative with National Security Council (NSC) Secretary 
General Chiou I-Jen on September 28. ADIR provided Chiou with 
a copy of the core principles and explained that because of 
the need to get China involved in the IPAPI initiative to 
develop a common approach to AI, we would have to work with 
Taiwan on the side.  The U.S., ADIR assured Chiou, would keep 
Taiwan informed of developments and discuss ways for Taiwan 
to be actively involved, including through U.S.-Taiwan 
bilateral cooperative projects.  ADIR pointed out that Taiwan 
would also be an active partner in APEC AI activities.  Chiou 
suggested that Taiwan might be able to make a contribution 
through WHO technical meetings.  Chiou also stressed that 
President Chen Shui-bian takes AI very seriously and that the 
relevant agencies are strengthening preparations to confront 
an AI outbreak. 
 
MOFA 
---- 
3. (C) MOFA North American Affairs Deputy Director Kelly 
Hsieh expressed hope that a  way could be found to include 
Taiwan in IPAPI activities, in response to a briefing by POL 
Chief on September 29.  Hsieh urged AIT to use the modus 
vivendi worked out with the WHO via the International Health 
Regulations (IHRs), which permit Taiwan participation in WHO 
activities.  Hsieh also encouraged the  U.S. to consider 
creating an East Asian regional group of nations willing to 
work together (ROK, Japan, Philippines, Taiwan) to cooperate 
and share information on AI. 
 
DOH 
--- 
4. (C) DOH Bureau of International Cooperation Director 
General Peter Chang told Econ Chief on September 30 that the 
Minister of Health has set up a high-level task force that 
will oversee the AI effort.  This office will be headed by 
Dr. Li Jih-Heng, the former Director General of the National 
Bureau of Controlled Drugs.  The task force will have control 
over all emergency medical offices in DOH. It also will 
coordinate with the Council of Agriculture. The task force 
has already started to issue a weekly newsletter for the 
general public in Chinese and English on the status of AI. 
The newsletter can be found on the DOH website by clicking on 
"Taiwan Health News" at http://www.doh.gov.tw/EN/Webpage 
Chang asked for some time to review the IPAPI core principles 
before responding to the AIT briefing. 
 
 
PAAL