Bush Administration issues new State Department Guidelines --UPDATED--

The Bush Administration issued the annual State Department guidelines for official interaction with The Beautiful Island, reported the Taipei Times today....

Contacts between US diplomatic personnel and Taiwanese officials and representatives abroad would be strictly limited under new guidelines the State Department has issued that appear to tighten the curbs on bilateral interaction that the department set down in government-wide prohibitions last issued in 2001, a copy of the new guidelines obtained by the Taipei Times on Monday showed.

The guidelines, which are believed to have been issued last week, go as far as barring any US official from writing a note or letter to any Taiwanese official, and banning US officials from attending Taiwanese events or entering official Taiwanese premises.

It appears that the timing of the new guidelines is related to the upcoming celebration of the Double Ten anniversary, and to remind US overseas personnel what they can and cannot do or say.

The guidelines do not break new ground, the article says....

For instance, the guidelines commit the US to a so-called “one-China” policy, a phrase absent in the 2001 guidelines, which were issued shortly after Bush entered the White House as an ardent supporter of Taiwan. Even personal thank-you notes must be written on plain paper and put in plain envelopes to disguise the sender’s official identity.

The guidelines also ban the display of the ROC flag on US premises, which is a no-no absent from the 2001 guidelines, and bar Taiwanese military personnel from showing up in their uniforms.

The new document also contains a new section on US non-support of Taiwan’s membership in international organizations, such as the UN, which require internationally recognized statehood for membership.

The article points out that the document retains previous limits on US official interaction with Taiwan. The codification of the "one China" policy would seem a big change, but little birdies say it is no great change. The article does not mention that while the guidelines specify US non-support of membership in organizations requiring statehood, they do call for support for other forms of international participation. Consistent with that, the guidelines have an exception to the "plain paper note" rule -- US officials can write to Taiwanese reps when they are writing to them as representatives of Taiwan's participation in international organizations. Then the proper organizational referent must be used ("Chinese Taipei").

In other words, the guidelines simply state what we all know US policy to be. Pro-Taiwan organizations in the US protested, nevertheless. As they should....

It is important to note that these guidelines DO NOT apply to AIT. They have their own separate guidance. These guidelines are for US officials in other countries who may be invited to Double 10 celebrations, etc. They are sent around annually at this time to State Department posts around the world, probably because ROC national day celebrations are coming up soon.

UPDATE: Word has it that the 2008 cable is twice as long as the 2006 cable, which had no mention of:

- the US believing that Taiwan is not a sovereign country
- the US not supporting Taiwan's membership in international organizations that require statehood
- guidelines on flying the ROC flag
- "One China Policy."

The clarification of the US position is clearly a lot clearer.....

UPDATE II: Text of the cable (it is unclassified). I have removed links and telephone numbers.

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AMGT, PREL, TW
SUBJECT: GUIDELINES ON CONTACTS20WITH TAIWAN

REF: 2007 STATE 123344

1. SUMMARY: EXECUTIVE BRANCH CONTACTS WITH TAIWAN
REPRESENTATIVES ABROAD SHOULD BE CARRIED OUT IN ACCORDANCE
WITH THE GUIDELINES LAID OUT IN PARA 3 BELOW. THE
GUIDELINES APPLY TO ALL OCCASIONS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND
ESPECIALLY IN THE WEEKS PRIOR TO THE OCTOBER 10 ("DOUBLE
TEN") ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDING OF THE "REPUBLIC OF
CHINA." PLEASE ENSURE THAT THESE GUIDELINES ARE BROADLY
CIRCULATED WITHIN YOUR MISSION. THIS CABLE DOES NOT
PROVIDE GUIDELINES FOR AIT EMPLOYEES.
END SUMMARY.

BACKGROUND ON UNOFFICIAL NATURE OF U.S. RELATIONS WITH
TAIWAN

2. FOR THE PAST THREE DECADES, THE UNITED STATES HAS
ADHERED TO A ONE CHINA POLICY, CONSISTENT WITH THE THREE
U.S.-PRC JOINT COMMUNIQUES AND THE TAIWAN RELATIONS ACT
(ALL AVAILABLE ON THE STATE DEPARTMENT'S WEBSITE). IN
KEEPING WITH THIS ONE CHINA POLICY, THE U.S. GOVERNMENT
ESTABLISHED DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH THE PRC IN 1979 AND
0A RECOGNIZED THE PRC AS THE SOLE LEGAL GOVERNMENT OF CHINA.
FOLLOWING THE TERMINATION OF FORMAL RELATIONS BETWEEN THE
UNITED STATES AND THE GOVERNING AUTHORITIES ON TAIWAN, THE
UNITED STATES BEGAN MAINTAINING UNOFFICIAL RELATIONS WITH
THE ISLAND, PER THE TAIWAN RELATIONS ACT. SIMILARLY, THE
U.S.-PRC JOINT COMMUNIQUE OF 1979 STATES THAT "THE PEOPLE
OF THE UNITED STATES WILL MAINTAIN CULTURAL, COMMERCIAL,
AND OTHER UNOFFICIAL RELATIONS WITH THE PEOPLE OF TAIWAN."

GUIDELINES FOR CONTACTS WITH TAIWAN REPRESENTATIVES

3. THE TAIWAN RELATIONS ACT ESTABLISHED THE AMERICAN
INSTITUTE IN TAIWAN (AIT) AS A NONPROFIT CORPORATION
RESPONSIBLE FOR CARRYING OUT PROGRAMS, TRANSACTIONS, AND
OTHER RELATIONS THAT WOULD, HAD WE MAINTAINED DIPLOMATIC
RELATIONS, HAVE BEEN CONDUCTED BY THE PRESIDENT OR ANY
AGENCY OF THE USG WITH RESPECT TO TAIWAN. TAIWAN'S
COUNTERPART TO AIT IS THE TAIPEI ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL
REPRESENTATIVE OFFICE IN THE UNITED STATES (TECRO).
EXECUTIVE BRANCH OFFICIALS SHOULD ADHERE TO THE FOLLOWING
GUIDELINES FOR INTERACTION WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF TAIWAN:

-- TAIWAN REPRESENTATIVES SHOULD BE TREATED WITH
APPROPRIATE COURTESY AND RESPECT, WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF
OUR UNOFFICIAL RELATIONS WITH THE ISLAND.

--USG OFFICIALS SHOULD CONDUCT THE SAME SUBSTANTIVE RANGE
OF BUSINESS WITH THEIR TAIWAN COUNTERPARTS THAT THEY WOULD
CONDUCT WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM COUNTRIES WITH WHICH THE
UNITED STATES HAS20DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS.

--MEETINGS BETWEEN USG OFFICIALS AND TAIWAN AUTHORITIES
OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES MUST BE HELD OUTSIDE USG AND
TAIWAN OFFICES (E.G., AT PRIVATE MEETING ROOMS OR
RESTAURANTS).

--EMBASSY PERSONNEL MAY ACCEPT INVITATIONS TO PRIVATE
FUNCTIONS HOSTED BY TAIWAN REPRESENTATIVES EITHER IN
RESTAURANTS OR IN THEIR HOMES, BUT NOT IN RESIDENCES OF
TAIWAN'S PRINCIPAL REPRESENTATIVES OR AMBASSADORS.
INVITATIONS TO OFFICIAL TAIWAN-HOSTED FUNCTIONS OR ANY
FUNCTIONS HELD ON TAIWAN'S OFFICIAL PREMISES MAY NOT BE
ACCEPTED.

--U.S. EMBASSY AND CONSULATE PERSONNEL MAY HOST TAIWAN
REPRESENTATIVES AT PRIVATE FUNCTIONS IN RESTAURANTS OR IN
THEIR HOMES, BUT NOT IN U.S. CHIEF OF MISSION RESIDENCES.
TAIWAN REPRESENTATIVES MAY NOT BE INVITED TO U.S.
FUNCTIONS OF AN OFFICIAL NATURE OR TO FUNCTIONS HELD ON
OFFICIAL U.S. PREMISES.

--IN COUNTRIES WHERE THE TAIWAN AMBASSADOR SERVES AS THE
DEAN OF THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS, U.S. PERSONNEL MAY ONLY
ATTEND FUNCTIONS THAT THE TAIWAN AMBASSADOR HOSTS FOR THE
ENTIRE CORPS IN HIS ROLE AS DEAN.

--ANY FUNCTION HELD ON OR AROUND OCTOBER 10, CELEBRATED
BY TAIWAN AUTHORITIES AS THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDING
OF THE "REPUBLIC OF CHINA," SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AN
OFFICIAL FUNCTION REGARDLESS OF ITS VENUE OR DECLARED
NATURE. (NOTE: WASHINGTON-BASED EXECUTIVE BRANCH OFFICIALS
ARE PERMITTED TO ATTEND THE SEPARATE TECRO-SPONSORED
=0 ARECEPTION SPECIFICALL Y FOR USG EXECUTIVE BRANCH OFFICIALS
THAT NORMALLY TAKES PLACE IN MID-OCTOBER, BECAUSE IT IS
DISTINCT FROM THE FORMAL DOUBLE-TEN FUNCTION.)

STATE 00095091 002 OF 003


--USG OFFICIALS MAY NOT ATTEND OFFICIAL OVERSEAS
FUNCTIONS THAT HONOR OR ARE HOSTED BY VISITING TAIWAN
AUTHORITIES. THE ONLY EXCEPTION MIGHT BE A FUNCTION, NOT
ON TAIWAN'S OFFICIAL PREMISES, HOSTED BY TAIWAN
REPRESENTATIVES FOR A MEETING OF AN INTERNATIONAL
ORGANIZATION IN WHICH TAIWAN IS A FULL MEMBER. REQUESTS
TO ATTEND SUCH EVENTS MUST BE REFERRED TO THE DEPARTMENT
(EAP/TC) FOR CONSIDERATION ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS (SEE
PARA 6 BELOW).

--U.S. GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES SHOULD NOT CORRESPOND
DIRECTLY WITH AUTHORITIES FROM TAIWAN, BUT RATHER SHOULD
SEND LETTERS THROUGH AIT-TECRO CHANNELS. INDIVIDUALS FROM
TAIWAN WHOM U.S. EXECUTIVE BRANCH OFFICIALS CONTACT ARE
GENERALLY REFERRED TO BY NAME, TITLE, AND CITY WITHOUT USE
OF INTERNATIONAL NOMENCLATURE (E.G., DIRECTOR GENERAL
CHANG, CIVIL AVIATION BUREAU, TAIPEI). CORRESPONDENCE TO
THESE INDIVIDUALS IS PREPARED ON PLAIN WHITE STATIONERY
AND SIGNED WITH A PERSONAL NAME WITHOUT A USG TITLE. (THE
EXCEPTION MIGHT BE WHEN CORRESPONDING WITH A TAIWAN
REPRESENTATIVE TO AN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF WHICH
TAIWAN IS A FULL MEMBER. THE REPRESENTATIVE'S TITLE,
AFFILIATION, AND STATUS IN THE ORGANIZATION SHOULD BE AS
SPECIFIED IN THE CONTEXT OF THE INTERNAT IONAL
ORGANIZATION, E.G., "CHINESE TAIPEI" IN A PEC). AIT WILL
PACKAGE CORRESPONDENCE UNDER AN APPROPRIATE COVER LETTER
TO TECRO, FROM WHICH IT WILL BE RELAYED TO RECIPIENT
AUTHORITIES ON TAIWAN.

GUIDELINES FOR TRAVEL TO TAIWAN

4. ALL EXECUTIVE BRANCH PERSONNEL WHO PLAN TO TRAVEL TO
TAIWAN FOR WORK-RELATED REASONS MUST HAVE PRIOR
CONCURRENCE FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT'S OFFICE OF TAIWAN
COORDINATION BEFORE REQUESTING TRAVEL CLEARANCE FROM AIT
TAIPEI. USG PERSONNEL TRAVEL TO TAIWAN IN THE CAPACITY OF
CONSULTANTS TO AIT. OFFICIAL TRAVEL IS NOT PERMITTED FOR
STATE OR DEFENSE OFFICIALS ABOVE THE RANK OF OFFICE
DIRECTOR OR FOR UNIFORMED MILITARY PERSONNEL ABOVE THE
LEVEL OF 06 (COLONEL, NAVY CAPTAIN) WITHOUT THE WRITTEN
PERMISSION OF EAP/TC. FOR PERSONAL TRAVEL, SENIOR
EXECUTIVE BRANCH OFFICIALS AT OR ABOVE THE LEVEL OF
ASSISTANT SECRETARY OR THREE-STAR FLAG OFFICERS MUST
OBTAIN CLEARANCE FROM EAP/TC. ALL TRAVEL BY EXECUTIVE
BRANCH PERSONNEL TO TAIWAN OR TRANSITING THROUGH TAIWAN
MUST BE ON A REGULAR (TOURIST) PASSPORT. DIPLOMATIC AND
OFFICIAL PASSPORTS SHOULD NOT BE USED FOR TRAVEL TO
TAIWAN.

U.S. POLICY ON TAIWAN'S STATUS IN INTERNATIONAL
ORGANIZATIONS

5. CONSISTENT WITH OUR ONE CHINA POLICY, THE UNITED STATES
DOES NOT SUPPORT TAIWAN'S MEMBERSHIP IN INTERNATIONAL
ORGANIZATIONS FOR WHICH STATEHOOD IS REQUIRED (E.G. THE
UNITED NATIONS OR ANY OF ITS20AFFILIATED ORGANIZATIONS).
THE UNITED STATES SUPPORTS, AS APPROPRIATE, TAIWAN'S
INVOLVEMENT IN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, PRO CESSES,
AGREEMENTS, AND GATHERINGS WHERE STATEHOOD IS NOT A
PREREQUISITE. WITHIN THE PARAMETERS OF OUR ONE CHINA
POLICY, THE UNITED STATES DOES NOT TAKE A POSITION ON WHAT
TAIWAN'S TITLE SHOULD BE IN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS.
THE UNITED STATES SUPPORTS FLEXIBLE ARRANGEMENTS AND
NOMENCLATURE ACCEPTABLE TO BOTH THE PRC AND TAIWAN AND
OPPOSES ATTEMPTS BY EITHER SIDE TO USE NOMENCLATURE FOR
POLITICAL PURPOSES INCONSISTENT WITH U.S. POLICY. THE
USG'S OVERALL GOAL IS TO ENABLE THE PEOPLE ON TAIWAN TO
COMPLY WITH INTERNATIONAL REGULATIONS AND GUIDELINES AND
RECEIVE APPROPRIATE INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE AND ADVICE,
DESPITE TAIPEI'S GENERAL LACK OF RECOGNITION AS AN
INDE PENDENT STATE.

GUIDELINES ON TAIWAN MILITARY UNIFORMS AND ROC FLAGS

6. IN KEEPING WITH THE UNOFFICIAL NATURE OF OUR RELATIONS
WITH TAIWAN AND THE FACT THAT THE UNITED STATES DOES NOT
RECOGNIZE TAIWAN AS AN INDEPENDENT, SOVEREIGN STATE,
MILITARY REPRESENTATIVES OF THE AUTHORITIES ON TAIWAN
SHOULD NOT WEAR THEIR UNIFORMS WHILE IN THE UNITED STATES
OR ON U.S. PREMISES OVERSEAS, AND THE "ROC" FLAG SHOULD
NOT BE DISPLAYED ON USG PREMISES.

COORDINATION WITH WASHINGTON ON TAIWAN MATTERS

7. POSTS THAT HAVE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING CONTACT WITH
TAIWAN OR ITS REPRESENTATIVES SHOULD SEEK EARLY GUID ANCE
FROM EAP'S OFFICE OF TAIWAN COORDINATION

STATE 00095091 003 OF 003


TERMINOLOGY

8. THE DEPARTMENT REMINDS POSTS THAT, CONSISTENT WITH THE
UNOFFICIAL NATURE OF U.S.TAIWAN TIES, THE U.S. GOVERNMENT
DOES NOT REFER TO TAIWAN AS THE "REPUBLIC OF CHINA," THE
"REPUBLIC OF CHINA ON TAIWAN," OR A COUNTRY. THE USG
REFERS TO TAIWAN SIMPLY AS "TAIWAN."

+++++++++++++

Speaking of the US, DPP Chairman Tsai Ing-wen's talk at Heritage is online. Enjoy!

[Taiwan]