Cable Viewer

Currently released so far... 25416 / 251,287

### Articles

Brazil Sri Lanka United Kingdom Sweden 00. Editorial United States Latin America Egypt Jordan Yemen Thailand

### Browse latest releases

2010/11 2010/12 2011/01 2011/02 2011/03 2011/04 2011/05 2011/06 2011/07 2011/08
2010/11/28 2010/11/29 2010/11/30
2010/12/01 2010/12/02 2010/12/03 2010/12/04 2010/12/05 2010/12/06 2010/12/07 2010/12/08 2010/12/09 2010/12/10 2010/12/11 2010/12/12 2010/12/13 2010/12/14 2010/12/15 2010/12/16 2010/12/17 2010/12/18 2010/12/19 2010/12/20 2010/12/21 2010/12/22 2010/12/23 2010/12/24 2010/12/25 2010/12/26 2010/12/27 2010/12/28 2010/12/29 2010/12/30
2011/01/01 2011/01/02 2011/01/04 2011/01/05 2011/01/07 2011/01/09 2011/01/11 2011/01/12 2011/01/13 2011/01/14 2011/01/15 2011/01/16 2011/01/17 2011/01/18 2011/01/19 2011/01/20 2011/01/21 2011/01/22 2011/01/23 2011/01/24 2011/01/25 2011/01/26 2011/01/27 2011/01/28 2011/01/29 2011/01/30 2011/01/31
2011/02/01 2011/02/02 2011/02/03 2011/02/04 2011/02/05 2011/02/06 2011/02/07 2011/02/08 2011/02/09 2011/02/10 2011/02/11 2011/02/12 2011/02/13 2011/02/14 2011/02/15 2011/02/16 2011/02/17 2011/02/18 2011/02/19 2011/02/20 2011/02/21 2011/02/22 2011/02/23 2011/02/24 2011/02/25 2011/02/26 2011/02/27 2011/02/28
2011/03/01 2011/03/02 2011/03/03 2011/03/04 2011/03/05 2011/03/06 2011/03/07 2011/03/08 2011/03/09 2011/03/10 2011/03/11 2011/03/13 2011/03/14 2011/03/15 2011/03/16 2011/03/17 2011/03/18 2011/03/19 2011/03/20 2011/03/21 2011/03/22 2011/03/23 2011/03/24 2011/03/25 2011/03/26 2011/03/27 2011/03/28 2011/03/29 2011/03/30 2011/03/31
2011/04/01 2011/04/02 2011/04/03 2011/04/04 2011/04/05 2011/04/06 2011/04/07 2011/04/08 2011/04/09 2011/04/10 2011/04/11 2011/04/12 2011/04/13 2011/04/14 2011/04/15 2011/04/16 2011/04/17 2011/04/18 2011/04/19 2011/04/20 2011/04/21 2011/04/22 2011/04/23 2011/04/24 2011/04/25 2011/04/26 2011/04/27 2011/04/28 2011/04/29 2011/04/30
2011/05/01 2011/05/02 2011/05/03 2011/05/04 2011/05/05 2011/05/06 2011/05/07 2011/05/08 2011/05/09 2011/05/10 2011/05/11 2011/05/12 2011/05/13 2011/05/14 2011/05/15 2011/05/16 2011/05/17 2011/05/18 2011/05/19 2011/05/20 2011/05/21 2011/05/22 2011/05/23 2011/05/24 2011/05/25 2011/05/26 2011/05/27 2011/05/28 2011/05/29 2011/05/30 2011/05/31
2011/06/01 2011/06/02 2011/06/03 2011/06/04 2011/06/05 2011/06/06 2011/06/07 2011/06/08 2011/06/09 2011/06/10 2011/06/11 2011/06/12 2011/06/13 2011/06/14 2011/06/15 2011/06/16 2011/06/17 2011/06/18 2011/06/19 2011/06/20 2011/06/21 2011/06/22 2011/06/23 2011/06/24 2011/06/25 2011/06/26 2011/06/27 2011/06/28 2011/06/29 2011/06/30
2011/07/01 2011/07/02 2011/07/04 2011/07/05 2011/07/06 2011/07/07 2011/07/08 2011/07/10 2011/07/11 2011/07/12 2011/07/13 2011/07/14 2011/07/15 2011/07/16 2011/07/17 2011/07/18 2011/07/19 2011/07/20 2011/07/21 2011/07/22 2011/07/23 2011/07/25 2011/07/27 2011/07/28 2011/07/29 2011/07/31
2011/08/01 2011/08/02 2011/08/03 2011/08/05 2011/08/06 2011/08/07 2011/08/08 2011/08/09 2011/08/10 2011/08/11 2011/08/12 2011/08/13 2011/08/15 2011/08/16 2011/08/17 2011/08/18 2011/08/19 2011/08/21 2011/08/22 2011/08/23

### Browse by creation date

66 72 73 75 79 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10
1966/12
1972/02 1972/08
1973/04
1975/03
1979/08
1985/03 1985/05 1985/06
1986/05 1986/08 1986/12
1987/06
1988/01 1988/03 1988/04 1988/07 1988/08 1988/09 1988/12
1989/01 1989/06 1989/12
1990/01 1990/07 1990/08 1990/10
1991/05 1991/06 1991/07 1991/11
1992/01 1992/03 1992/06 1992/09 1992/11 1992/12
1993/01 1993/02 1993/04 1993/10 1993/12
1994/05 1994/11 1994/12
1995/01 1995/04 1995/06 1995/11
1996/07 1996/08 1996/09 1996/11
1997/02 1997/03 1997/05 1997/06 1997/08 1997/10 1997/11 1997/12
1998/05 1998/12
1999/01 1999/09 1999/12
2000/04 2000/05 2000/06 2000/09 2000/11 2000/12
2001/02 2001/03 2001/04 2001/05 2001/06 2001/07 2001/09 2001/10 2001/11 2001/12
2002/01 2002/02 2002/03 2002/04 2002/06 2002/07 2002/08 2002/09 2002/11 2002/12
2003/01 2003/02 2003/03 2003/04 2003/05 2003/06 2003/07 2003/08 2003/09 2003/10 2003/11 2003/12
2004/01 2004/02 2004/03 2004/04 2004/05 2004/06 2004/07 2004/08 2004/09 2004/10 2004/11 2004/12
2005/01 2005/02 2005/03 2005/04 2005/05 2005/06 2005/07 2005/08 2005/09 2005/10 2005/11 2005/12
2006/01 2006/02 2006/03 2006/04 2006/05 2006/06 2006/07 2006/08 2006/09 2006/10 2006/11 2006/12
2007/01 2007/02 2007/03 2007/04 2007/05 2007/06 2007/07 2007/08 2007/09 2007/10 2007/11 2007/12
2008/01 2008/02 2008/03 2008/04 2008/05 2008/06 2008/07 2008/08 2008/09 2008/10 2008/11 2008/12
2009/01 2009/02 2009/03 2009/04 2009/05 2009/06 2009/07 2009/08 2009/09 2009/10 2009/11 2009/12
2010/01 2010/02

### Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z
Embassy Athens Embassy Asuncion Embassy Astana Embassy Asmara Embassy Ashgabat Embassy Apia Embassy Ankara Embassy Amman Embassy Algiers Embassy Addis Ababa Embassy Accra Embassy Abuja Embassy Abu Dhabi Embassy Abidjan Consulate Auckland Consulate Amsterdam Consulate Alexandria Consulate Adana American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura Embassy Buenos Aires Embassy Budapest Embassy Bucharest Embassy Brussels Embassy Bridgetown Embassy Bratislava Embassy Brasilia Embassy Bogota Embassy Bishkek Embassy Bern Embassy Berlin Embassy Belmopan Embassy Belgrade Embassy Beirut Embassy Beijing Embassy Banjul Embassy Bangkok Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan Embassy Bamako Embassy Baku Embassy Baghdad Consulate Belfast Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen Embassy Conakry Embassy Colombo Embassy Chisinau Embassy Caracas Embassy Canberra Embassy Cairo Consulate Curacao Consulate Ciudad Juarez Consulate Chiang Mai Consulate Chennai Consulate Chengdu Consulate Casablanca Consulate Cape Town Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe Embassy Dublin Embassy Doha Embassy Djibouti Embassy Dili Embassy Dhaka Embassy Dar Es Salaam Embassy Damascus Embassy Dakar Consulate Dubai Consulate Dhahran
Embassy Freetown Consulate Fukuoka
Embassy Guatemala Embassy Gaborone Consulate Guayaquil Consulate Guangzhou Consulate Guadalajara
Embassy Helsinki Embassy Harare Embassy Hanoi Consulate Hong Kong Consulate Ho Chi Minh City Consulate Hermosillo Consulate Hamilton Consulate Hamburg Consulate Halifax
Iran RPO Dubai Embassy Islamabad Consulate Izmir Consulate Istanbul
Embassy Jakarta Consulate Jerusalem Consulate Jeddah
Embassy Kyiv Embassy Kuwait Embassy Kuala Lumpur Embassy Kinshasa Embassy Kingston Embassy Kigali Embassy Khartoum Embassy Kathmandu Embassy Kampala Embassy Kabul Consulate Kolkata Consulate Karachi
Embassy Luxembourg Embassy Luanda Embassy London Embassy Ljubljana Embassy Lisbon Embassy Lima Embassy Lilongwe Embassy Libreville Embassy La Paz Consulate Lahore Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE Mission USNATO Mission UNESCO Mission Geneva Embassy Muscat Embassy Moscow Embassy Montevideo Embassy Monrovia Embassy Minsk Embassy Mexico Embassy Mbabane Embassy Maseru Embassy Maputo Embassy Manila Embassy Manama Embassy Managua Embassy Malabo Embassy Madrid Consulate Munich Consulate Mumbai Consulate Montreal Consulate Monterrey Consulate Milan Consulate Melbourne Consulate Matamoros
Embassy Nouakchott Embassy Nicosia Embassy Niamey Embassy New Delhi Embassy Ndjamena Embassy Nassau Embassy Nairobi Consulate Nuevo Laredo Consulate Naples Consulate Naha Consulate Nagoya
Embassy Ouagadougou Embassy Ottawa Embassy Oslo
Embassy Pristina Embassy Pretoria Embassy Prague Embassy Port Of Spain Embassy Port Louis Embassy Port Au Prince Embassy Phnom Penh Embassy Paris Embassy Paramaribo Embassy Panama Consulate Peshawar
Embassy Quito Consulate Quebec
REO Basrah Embassy Rome Embassy Riyadh Embassy Riga Embassy Reykjavik Embassy Rangoon Embassy Rabat Consulate Rio De Janeiro Consulate Recife
Secretary of State Embassy Suva Embassy Stockholm Embassy Sofia Embassy Skopje Embassy Singapore Embassy Seoul Embassy Sarajevo Embassy Santo Domingo Embassy Santiago Embassy Sanaa Embassy San Salvador Embassy San Jose Consulate Strasbourg Consulate St Petersburg Consulate Shenyang Consulate Shanghai Consulate Sapporo Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis Embassy Tripoli Embassy Tokyo Embassy The Hague Embassy Tel Aviv Embassy Tehran Embassy Tegucigalpa Embassy Tbilisi Embassy Tashkent Embassy Tallinn Consulate Toronto Consulate Tijuana Consulate Thessaloniki
USUN New York USEU Brussels US Office Almaty US Mission Geneva US Interests Section Havana US Delegation, Secretary UNVIE UN Rome Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius Embassy Vientiane Embassy Vienna Embassy Vatican Embassy Valletta Consulate Vladivostok Consulate Vancouver
Embassy Windhoek Embassy Wellington Embassy Warsaw
Embassy Yerevan Embassy Yaounde
Embassy Zagreb

### Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ASEC AEMR AMGT AR APECO AU AORC AJ AF AFIN AS AM ABLD AFFAIRS AMB APER AA AE ADM ACOA AID ASEAN AMED AORG APEC AY AL AGOA ATRN AG ALOW AND ADB ABUD ASPA ADPM ADANA AFSI ARABL ADCO AFSN ACABQ AO ANARCHISTS AZ ANET AMEDCASCKFLO AADP AGRICULTURE AINT ARR ARF AINF APRC AFSA AX AINR AODE APCS AROC AGAO ASUP AIT ARCH AEMRASECCASCKFLOMARRPRELPINRAMGTJMXL AMEX ARM AQ ATFN AMBASSADOR ARAS ACBAQ AC AOPR AREP ASIG ASEX ASCE AER AGR AVERY ASCH AEMRS AFU AMG ATPDEA ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG AORL AN AGMT ACS AMCHAMS AECL AUC AFGHANISTAN ACAO
BR BB BG BEXP BY BA BRUSSELS BU BD BK BL BE BMGT BO BTIO BX BC BH BM BN BAIO BUSH BRPA BILAT BF BOEHNER BOL BIDEN BP BURNS BBG BBSR BT BWC BEXPC BTIU
CPAS CA CASC CS CBW CIDA CO CODEL CI CROS CU CH CWC CMGT CVIS CDG CG CF CHIEF CJAN CBSA CE CY CB CW CM CHR CD CT CTERR CVR CDC CN CONS CR CAMBODIA CACS COUNTRY CFIS CONDOLEEZZA CEN CZ CLEARANCE CARICOM COM CICTE CYPRUS CITES CV CBE CMGMT COE CIVS CFED COUNTER CAPC COPUOS CARSON CTR CKGR CLINTON COUNTERTERRORISM CITEL CQ CSW CIC CITT CARIB CAFTA CACM CDB CJUS CTM CAN CAJC CONSULAR CLMT CBC CIA CNARC CIS CEUDA CHINA CAC CL
DR DJ DB DA DHS DAO DCM DO DEFENSE DK DOMESTIC DISENGAGEMENT DAC DOD DCG DE DOT DPRK DEPT DEA DOE DTRA DS DEAX
ECON ETTC EFIS ETRD EC EMIN EAGR EAID EFIN EUN ECIN EG EWWT EINV ENRG ELAB EPET EN EAIR EUMEM ECPS ES ELTN EIND EZ EU EI ER ET EINT ENGR ECONOMIC ENIV EFTA ESTH EET EUREM ENV EAG EAP ECONOMY ELECTIONS ETRO ECIP EPEC EXIM ERNG ENERG ED EREL ELAM EK EDEV ENGY ETRDEC ECCT EPA ENGRD ECLAC ETRAD ENVR ELTNSNAR ELAP ETRC EPIT EDUC EFI EEB EETC EIVN ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS ETRDGK ENVI EXTERNAL ELN EAIDS ECOSOC EDU EPREL EINVEFIN EAGER ECA ETMIN EIDN EINVKSCA EFINECONCS ETC EINN EXBS ECONOMICS EIAR EINDETRD ECONEFIN EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EFIM EINVETC ECONCS EDRC ENRD EBRD ETRA ESA EAIG EUR EUC ERD ETRN EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ESENV ENNP ECINECONCS ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN
FR FI FOREIGN FAO FARM FARC FAS FJ FREEDOM FINANCE FBI FTAA FM FCS FAA FTA FK FT FAC FDA FINR FOR FOI FO FMLN FISO
GM GERARD GT GA GG GR GTIP GE GH GY GB GJ GLOBAL GEORGE GCC GC GV GAZA GL GOV GOI GF GTMO GANGS GAERC GZ GUILLERMO GASPAR
HR HA HYMPSK HO HK HUMAN HU HN HHS HUD HUMANR HSTC HURI HILLARY HI HUM HEBRON HUMOR
IZ IN IAEA IS IMO ILO IR IC IT ITU IV IMF IBRD IWC IPR IDB ID IRAQI ISRAELI ITALY ITPGOV ITALIAN IADB ICAO ICRC INR ICJ ICCAT IFAD IO ITRA INL IAHRC IRAQ INMARSAT INRA INTELSAT INTERNAL ILC IRS INDO IIP IND IEFIN IQ ISCON ICTY IA INTERPOL IEA INRB ISRAEL IZPREL IRAJ IF ITPHUM IL IACI IDA ISLAMISTS IGAD ITF INRO IBET IDP ICTR IRC
JA JO JM JP JOHN JUS JN JAMES JOSEPH JOHNNIE JML JIMENEZ
KMDR KPAO KOMC KNNP KFLO KDEM KSUM KIPR KFLU KE KCRM KJUS KAWC KZ KSCA KDRG KCOR KGHG KPAL KTIP KMCA KCRS KPKO KOLY KRVC KVPR KG KWBG KTER KS KN KSPR KWMN KV KTFN KFRD KSTH KISL KGIC KSEP KFIN KTEX KTIA KUNR KCMR KMOC KCIP KTDB KBIO KSAF KU KHIV KNNNP KSTC KNUP KIRF KIRC KNUC KHLS KTDD KMPI KIDE KMFO KSEO KJUST KPIR KIVP KICC KCFE KSCS KGLB KPWR KCUL KPOP KPALAOIS KR KTTB KCOM KESS KWN KCSY KREL KTBT KRFD KFLOA KPOL KIND KBCT KSKN KOCI KHUM KPRP KREC KICCPUR KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KGIT KMCC KPRV KAUST KPAS KPAOPREL KIRP KLAB KHSA KPAONZ KICA KCRIM KHDP KNAR KSAC KCRCM KINR KGHA KIIP KPAOY KTRD KTAO KWAC KACT KSCI KNPP KMRS KNNPMNUC KBTS KERG KLTN KTLA KNDP KO KAWK KVRP KPOA KVIR KENV KAID KX KRCM KFSC KCFC KNEI KCHG KPLS KFTFN KTFM KLIG KDEMAF KRIM KRAD KBTR KGCC KPA KSEC KPIN KDEV KWWMN KOM KWNM KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KRGY KIFR KWMNCS KFPC KPAK KOMS KDDG KCGC KPAI KID KMIG KNSD KWMM
LY LE LABOR LH LAB LTTE LT LO LI LU LA LVPR LG LR LOG
MARR MX MASS MOPS MNUC MCAP MTCRE MRCRE MTRE MASC MY MK MCC MO MAS MG MC MCA MZ MI MIL MU MR MT MTCR ML MN MURRAY MEPP MP MINUSTAH MA MD MAR MAPP MOPPS MTS MLS MILI MEPN MEPI MEETINGS MERCOSUR MW MIK MAPS MV MILITARY MARAD MDC MACEDONIA MASSMNUC MUCN MEDIA MQADHAFI MPOS MPS
NZ NATO NI NO NU NG NL NPT NS NSF NP NA NANCY NRR NATIONAL NASA NC NDP NIH NIPP NK NSSP NEGROPONTE NGO NAS NE NATOIRAQ NR NAR NZUS NARC NCCC NH NSG NAFTA NEW NT NUIN NOVO NATOPREL NEA NSC NV NPA NSFO NW NORAD NPG NOAA
OPRC OTRA OECD OVIP OREP ODC OIIP OPDC OAS OSCE OPIC OMS OEXC OPCW OIE OSCI OFDP OPAD ODPC OCEA ODIP OMIG OM OFFICIALS OEXP OPEC OVIPPRELUNGANU OSHA OSIC OHUM OTR OSAC OBSP OFDA OVP ON OCII OES OCS OIC
PGOV PREL PARM PINR PHUM PM PREF PTER PK PINS PBIO PHSA PE PBTS PA PL POL PAK POV POLITICS POLICY PKO PNAT PELOSI PP PRE PUNE PALESTINIAN PAS PO PROV PH PLAB PCI PERM PETR PRELBR PETERS PROP PBS POLITICAL PMIL PJUS PG PREZ PGIC PAO PRELPK PGOVENRG PATTY PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PAIGH PROG PMAR PU PTE PDOV PGOVSOCI PY PETER PGOR PBTSRU PRAM PARMS PINL PSI PPA PTERE PREO PERL PGOF PINO PRGOV PORG PS PGVO PKFK PSOE PEPR PDEM PINT PRELP PREFA PNG PTBS PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA POLINT PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PLN PHUH PEDRO PF PHUS PARTIES PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PHUMPREL POGOV PEL PBT PINF PRL PSEPC POSTS PAHO PHUMPGOV PGOC PNR
QA QI
RS RP RU RW RFE RCMP RIGHTSPOLMIL RO ROBERT RM ROOD RICE REGION RGY RELFREE RELAM RSP RF RELATIONS RIGHTS RUPREL REMON RPEL REACTION REPORT RSO
SZ SENV SOCI SNAR SO SP SU SY SI SMIG SYR SA SCUL SW SR SYRIA SNARM SPECIALIST SG SF SENS SEN SENVEAGREAIDTBIOECONSOCIXR SN SC SECRETARY SNA ST SK SL SANC SMIL SCRM SENVSXE SE SAARC STEINBERG SCRS SWE SARS SENVQGR SNARIZ SUDAN SAN SM SIPDIS SFNV SSA SPCVIS SOFA SENVKGHG SHI SEVN SHUM SH SNARCS SPCE SNARN SIPRS
TW TRGY TBIO TSPA TU TPHY TI TX TH TIP TSPL TNGD TS TRSY TC TINT TZ TN TT TR TA TIO TF TK TRAD TNDG TWI TD TWL TERRORISM TL TV TP THPY TO TURKEY TSPAM TREL TRT TFIN TAGS TWCH TBID
UK UNSC UNGA UN US UZ USEU UG UP UNAUS UNMIK USTR UY UNSCR UNRCR UNESCO USAID UNHRC USAU UNICEF UV USPS UNFICYP UNDP UNCITRAL UNHCR UNCSD UNEP USCC UNMIC UNTAC USUN USDA UNCHR UR UNCTAD USGS UNFPA USOAS USNC UA UE UNVIE UAE UNO UNODC UNCHS UNDESCO UNC UNPUOS UNDC UNCHC UNFCYP UNIDROIT UNCND
VM VE VT VZ VEPREL VN VTEG VOA VTIZ VTPREL VISIT VENZ VAT VC VI
WHTI WIPO WTRO WTO WHO WEET WCL WFP WS WHA WA WZ WI WMD WBG WILLIAM WWARD WITH WTRQ WCO WEU WMO WB
XA XX XK XL XM XS XF XR XY XG XT XI XE XW XC XH XD XU XV XB XZ XQ XTAG
YI YM YE YL YMCS
ZU ZI ZOELLICK ZP ZR ZK ZA ZO ZF ZL ZB ZN ZH ZT ZJ ZEALAND ZANU

### Browse by classification

CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN SECRET SECRET//NOFORN UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

### Community resources

Follow us on Twitter Check our Reddit Twitter this Digg this page Contact us on IRC

courage is contagious

### Viewing cable 05TAIPEI4029, Economic Briefing for September 2005

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:

- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.

To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #05TAIPEI4029.

Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
05TAIPEI4029 | 2005-09-30 08:56 | 2011-08-23 00:00 | UNCLASSIFIED | American Institute Taiwan, Taipei

`

    This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

` `

    UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 TAIPEI 004029

    SIPDIS

    STATE PLEASE PASS AIT/W AND USTR

    STATE FOR EAP/RSP/TC, EAP/EP

    USTR FOR WINTER AND WINELAND

    USDOC FOR 4420/USFCS/OCEA/EAP/LDROKER
    USDOC FOR 3132/USFCS/OIO/EAP/ADAVENPORT
    TREASURY FOR OASIA/LMOGHTADER
    TREASURY PLEASE PASS TO OCC/AMCMAHON
    TREASURY ALSO PASS TO FEDERAL RESERVE/BOARD OF
    GOVERNORS, AND SAN FRANCISCO FRB/TERESA CURRAN

    E.O. 12958: N/A
    TAGS: EINV EFIN ECON PINR TW ESTH
    SUBJECT:  Economic Briefing for September 2005

    ¶1.  This cable summarizes selected recent economic events in
    Taiwan in September 2005:

    --Overview:  Oil prices dampen growth
    --Strikes stymie Taiwan's financial reform
    --Avian flu alert
    --Cross-Strait exchanges increase
    --Taiwan attempts WTO consultations with China
    --RMB appreciation affects Taiwan firms
    --Economic relationship with Vietnam
    --China Shipbuilding Corporation to privatize

    Higher Petroleum Prices Dampen Growth
    -------------------------------------

    ¶2.  The recent sharp, sustained increase in oil prices from
    less than US$50 per barrel early this year to above US$70 in
    late August has dampened Taiwan's economy.  Higher oil
    prices in the first eight months of 2005 pushed up Taiwan's
    oil import costs by 50%.  This increase, together with the
    continuing offshore relocation of Taiwan manufacturing and
    flagging demand from the United States, Japan, and Europe,
    cut Taiwan's trade surplus by 80%, and almost eliminated
    Taiwan's balance of payments surplus in the first half of
    ¶2005.  Inflation in August reached 3.56%, the highest level
    in the past 44 months, prompting Taiwan's Central Bank of
    China to raise its benchmark interest rate by 0.125
    percentage points in mid-September.  Higher oil prices,
    coupled with higher interest rates for the US dollar (USD)
    than for the NT dollar (NTD), caused the NTD to depreciate
    six percent from early March to late September, and Taiwan's
    stock market to fall seven percent during July-September.
    Local economists estimate that higher oil prices could
    reduce Taiwan's 2005 economic growth by 0.1-0.15 percentage
    points to around 3.5%.  Nevertheless, Taiwan's government
    predicts higher export growth in the last quarter of this
    year when depleted inventories in developed nations will
    stimulate demand for Taiwan-made products, particularly IC
    and other electronic goods.

    Effects of RMB Appreciation on Taiwan
    -------------------------------------

    ¶3.  On September 20, the Board of Foreign Trade sponsored a
    seminar to discuss the effects of the RMB appreciation on
    Taiwan.  The RMB appreciation may blunt the competitive edge
    of Taiwan companies based in China.   Taiwan's Chinese
    National Federation of Industries (CNFI) believes that the
    RMB appreciation may force China to upgrade to compete more
    on quality rather than just price.  CNFI will encourage
    Taiwan enterprises to merge or ally with multinational
    corporations and to explore opportunities outside of China.
    Major foreign investment banks including Deutsche Bank,
    Credit Suisse First Boston, ABN AMRO and JP Morgan expect
    that the RMB will appreciate further over the next two
    years.

    Labor Stymies Financial Reform
    ------------------------------

    ¶4.  On September 9, three financial holding companies bid
    for state-owned shares of Business Bank of Taiwan (BBT), a
    key step in Taiwan's second-stage financial reform.
    However, about 36% of BBT employees staged a strike the day
    prior to the bidding.  The strike lasted four days, drove
    BBT share price down by 15%, and forced the government to
    stop the sale.  Opposition party legislators joined BBT
    employees to demand the government stop selling off BBT
    equity.  The protests led to the resignation of BBT Chairman
    Chung Su-sheng, and the new Chairman, Chang Chao-shuen,
    promised not to sell any more of the state-owned equity in
    BBT.  At present, the government controls 43.65% of
    ownership in BBT, which is one of Taiwan's top ten banks in
    assets.

    Taiwan Steps up Alert against Avian Flu
    ---------------------------------------

    ¶5.  On September 22, Taiwan's Council of Agriculture (COA)
    issued an avian flu alert in anticipation of migratory birds
    arriving from Siberia, where H5N1 has spread from Southeast
    Asia.  The COA will conduct an inter-ministerial anti-flu
    exercise in mid-October.  Taiwan's Department of Health
    (DOH) has come up with a five-year avian anti-flu program
    that will require NT$30 billion in funding.  The DOH will
    stock 23 million masks and 5 million sets of protection
    gear.  It will seek to procure sufficient Tamiflu to treat
    ten percent of the population.  The DOH will begin a
    separate seven-year flu vaccine self-sufficiency program
    that will earmark NT$500 million for development of
    technology and another NT$1.5 billion to subsidize vaccine
    production.  The government will budget NT$4 billion for
    procurement of flu vaccine each year.

    Cross-Strait Two-way Travel Increases
    -------------------------------------

    ¶6.  Cross-strait travel in the first half of 2005 continued
    to grow with 71,683 entries into Taiwan from China, up 3.3%
    from a year earlier.  This included 9,766 persons coming for
    marriage (up 200%), 3,735 persons for permanent residence
    (up 383%), and 27,576 persons for short visits (down 34%).
    As of June 2005, Taiwan has officially approved 158,000
    mainland Chinese for permanent residence in Taiwan.  From
    1987 to June 2005, over 1.2 Mainland Chinese have visited
    Taiwan, for social, cultural, and economic activities, as
    well as tourism.  According to China's statistics, the
    number of people from Taiwan visiting China in the first six
    months of this year grew 18.7% from a year ago to 2.01
    million entries, sending the cumulative number of Taiwan
    visits to 36 million.  There are nearly one million Taiwan
    people living in China.

    Taiwan Attempts to Consult with China under WTO
    --------------------------------------------- --

    ¶7.  Taiwan's International Trade Commission (ITC) will
    submit an import relief and industrial defense case to the
    WTO and request consultations with China.  On September 19,
    the ITC accepted a petition from the Yunlin County Towel
    Association complaining that a sharp increase in towel
    imports from China had injured its member companies.  Cotton
    towel imports from China in 2004 totaled 6,800 metric tons,
    84% more than the 3,700 metric tons in 2002.

    Taiwan Signs Agreement on Vietnam's WTO Accession
    --------------------------------------------- ----

    ¶8.  During her trip to Vietnam to attend bilateral trade and
    economic consultations in early September, Taiwan's Economic
    Minister Ho Mei-yueh signed a bilateral agreement on
    Vietnam's WTO accession.  The agreement will lower import
    tariffs on Taiwan products, and reduce tariff rates for some
    200 products whose Vietnam import duties average 45.25%.
    Minister Ho also signed a Taiwan-Vietnam Trade Agreement and
    a Memorandum on Standardization, Weights and Measurement
    Assessment.  In addition, Taiwan and Vietnam agreed to
    support each other to join the ATA Carnet Agreement system
    (designed to facilitate trade promotion by quick custom
    clearance and tariff exemption for exhibition products).
    Taiwan is the largest source of Vietnam's foreign
    investment, and over 80% of Taiwan's projects are in labor-
    intensive industries such as textiles, garments, footwear,
    and furniture.  Taiwan's cumulative investment in Vietnam as
    of August 2005 totaled US$7.6 billion.  Taiwan had been
    Vietnam's third largest trading partner (after Japan and the
    United States) until 2003 when China overtook Taiwan.

    Privatization of China Shipbuilding Corporation (CSC)
    --------------------------------------------- --------

    ¶9.  The Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC)
    plans to privatize the 99% government-owned CSC prior to the
    end of December 2005.  The deadline to submit bids is
    October 17.  There will be a one-week bidder qualification
    review following the deadline.  Each bidder is required to
    pay a NT$30 million guaranty deposit, and have minimum
    capital of NT$500 million.  The bid winner may neither close
    any CSC shipbuilding yards nor transfer management and
    ownership to others within five years.  Funding to acquire
    CSC may not come from China.  Two large local shipping
    companies (i.e., Wanhai Marine Transport Company and Yang
    Ming Marine Transport Corporation) and China Steel
    Corporation will reportedly form an alliance to bid.  [Note:
    The Taiwan government owns a significant, but less than 50%
    share in both China Steel and Yang Ming.]

    KEEGAN

`