Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

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

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
ETRD EAGR ETTC EAID ECON EFIN ECIN EINV ELAB EAIR ENRG EPET EWWT ECPS EIND EMIN ELTN EC ETMIN EUC EZ ET ELECTIONS ENVR EU EUN EG EINT ER ECONOMICS ES EMS ENIV EEB EN ECE ECOSOC EK ENVIRONMENT EFIS EI EWT ENGRD ECPSN EXIM EIAD ERIN ECPC EDEV ENGY ECTRD EPA ESTH ECCT EINVECON ENGR ERTD EUR EAP EWWC ELTD EL EXIMOPIC EXTERNAL ETRDEC ESCAP ECO EGAD ELNT ECONOMIC ENV ETRN EIAR EUMEM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID EREL ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA ETCC ETRG ECONOMY EMED ETR ENERG EITC EFINOECD EURM EENG ERA EXPORT ENRD ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EGEN EBRD EVIN ETRAD ECOWAS EFTA ECONETRDBESPAR EGOVSY EPIN EID ECONENRG EDRC ESENV ETT EB ENER ELTNSNAR ECHEVARRIA ETRC EPIT EDUC ESA EFI ENRGY ESCI EE EAIDXMXAXBXFFR EETC ECIP EIAID EIVN EBEXP ESTN EING EGOV ETRA EPETEIND ELAN ETRDGK EAIDRW ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ENVI ELN EAG EPCS EPRT EPTED ETRB EUM EAIDS EFIC EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR ESF EIDN ELAM EDU EV EAIDAF ECN EDA EXBS EINTECPS ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EPREL EAC EINVEFIN ETA EAGER EINDIR ECA ECLAC ELAP EITI EUCOM ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID EARG ELDIN EINVKSCA ENNP EFINECONCS EFINTS ECCP ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEFIN EIB EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM ETIO ELAINE EMN EATO EWTR EIPR EINVETC ETTD ETDR EIQ ECONCS EPPD ENRGIZ EISL ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO EUREM ENTG ERD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN EFND EPECO EAIRECONRP ERGR ETRDPGOV ECPN ENRGMO EPWR EET EAIS EAGRE EDUARDO EAGRRP EAIDPHUMPRELUG EICN ECONQH EVN EGHG ELBR EINF EAIDHO EENV ETEX ERNG ED
KMDR KPAO KPKO KJUS KCRM KGHG KFRD KWMN KDEM KTFN KHIV KGIC KIDE KSCA KNNP KHUM KIPR KSUM KISL KIRF KCOR KRCM KPAL KWBG KN KS KOMC KSEP KFLU KPWR KTIA KSEO KMPI KHLS KICC KSTH KMCA KVPR KPRM KE KU KZ KFLO KSAF KTIP KTEX KBCT KOCI KOLY KOR KAWC KACT KUNR KTDB KSTC KLIG KSKN KNN KCFE KCIP KGHA KHDP KPOW KUNC KDRL KV KPREL KCRS KPOL KRVC KRIM KGIT KWIR KT KIRC KOMO KRFD KUWAIT KG KFIN KSCI KTFIN KFTN KGOV KPRV KSAC KGIV KCRIM KPIR KSOC KBIO KW KGLB KMWN KPO KFSC KSEAO KSTCPL KSI KPRP KREC KFPC KUNH KCSA KMRS KNDP KR KICCPUR KPPAO KCSY KTBT KCIS KNEP KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KGCC KINR KPOP KMFO KENV KNAR KVIR KDRG KDMR KFCE KNAO KDEN KGCN KICA KIMMITT KMCC KLFU KMSG KSEC KUM KCUL KMNP KSMT KCOM KOMCSG KSPR KPMI KRAD KIND KCRP KAUST KWAWC KTER KCHG KRDP KPAS KITA KTSC KPAOPREL KWGB KIRP KJUST KMIG KLAB KTFR KSEI KSTT KAPO KSTS KLSO KWNN KPOA KHSA KNPP KPAONZ KBTS KWWW KY KJRE KPAOKMDRKE KCRCM KSCS KWMNCI KESO KWUN KPLS KIIP KEDEM KPAOY KRIF KGICKS KREF KTRD KFRDSOCIRO KTAO KJU KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KO KNEI KEMR KKIV KEAI KWAC KRCIM KWCI KFIU KWIC KCORR KOMS KNNO KPAI KBWG KTTB KTBD KTIALG KILS KFEM KTDM KESS KNUC KPA KOMCCO KCEM KRCS KWBGSY KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KWN KERG KLTN KALM KCCP KSUMPHUM KREL KGH KLIP KTLA KAWK KWMM KVRP KVRC KAID KSLG KDEMK KX KIF KNPR KCFC KFTFN KTFM KPDD KCERS KMOC KDEMAF KMEPI KEMS KDRM KEPREL KBTR KEDU KNP KIRL KNNR KMPT KISLPINR KTPN KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KTDD KAKA KFRP KWNM KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KWWMN KECF KWBC KPRO KVBL KOM KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KEDM KFLD KLPM KRGY KNNF KICR KIFR KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KDDG KCGC KID KNSD KMPF KPFO KDP KCMR KRMS KNPT KNNNP KTIAPARM KDTB KNUP KPGOV KNAP KNNC KUK KSRE KREISLER KIVP KQ KTIAEUN KPALAOIS KRM KISLAO KWM KFLOA
PHUM PINR PTER PGOV PREL PREF PL PM PHSA PE PARM PINS PK PUNE PO PALESTINIAN PU PBTS PROP PTBS POL POLI PA PGOVZI POLMIL POLITICAL PARTIES POLM PD POLITICS POLICY PAS PMIL PINT PNAT PV PKO PPOL PERSONS PING PBIO PH PETR PARMS PRES PCON PETERS PRELBR PT PLAB PP PAK PDEM PKPA PSOCI PF PLO PTERM PJUS PSOE PELOSI PROPERTY PGOVPREL PARP PRL PNIR PHUMKPAL PG PREZ PGIC PBOV PAO PKK PROV PHSAK PHUMPREL PROTECTION PGOVBL PSI PRELPK PGOVENRG PUM PRELKPKO PATTY PSOC PRIVATIZATION PRELSP PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PMIG PREC PAIGH PROG PSHA PARK PETER POG PHUS PPREL PS PTERPREL PRELPGOV POV PKPO PGOVECON POUS PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PWBG PMAR PREM PAR PNR PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PARMIR PGOVGM PHUH PARTM PN PRE PTE PY POLUN PPEL PDOV PGOVSOCI PIRF PGOVPM PBST PRELEVU PGOR PBTSRU PRM PRELKPAOIZ PGVO PERL PGOC PAGR PMIN PHUMR PVIP PPD PGV PRAM PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOF PINO PHAS PODC PRHUM PHUMA PREO PPA PEPFAR PGO PRGOV PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PREFA PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PINOCHET PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA PRELC PREK PHUME PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PEACE PROCESS PLN PRELSW PAHO PEDRO PRELA PASS PPAO PGPV PNUM PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PEL PBT PAMQ PINF PSEPC POSTS PHUMPGOV PVOV PHSAPREL PROLIFERATION PENA PRELTBIOBA PIN PRELL PGOVPTER PHAM PHYTRP PTEL PTERPGOV PHARM PROTESTS PRELAF PKBL PRELKPAO PKNP PARMP PHUML PFOV PERM PUOS PRELGOV PHUMPTER PARAGRAPH PERURENA PBTSEWWT PCI PETROL PINSO PINSCE PQL PEREZ PBS

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 08TAIPEI99, Taiwan Telecom: NCC Crisis Averted?

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. #08TAIPEI99.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
08TAIPEI99 2008-01-18 10:10 2011-08-23 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
VZCZCXRO5909
RR RUEHCN RUEHGH RUEHVC
DE RUEHIN #0099/01 0181010
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 181010Z JAN 08
FM AIT TAIPEI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7955
INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TAIPEI 000099 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/RSP/TC AND EEB 
STATE PASS TO AIT/W FOR RICK RUZICKA 
STATE PASS TO USTR FOR DAVID KATZ AND CHRIS WILSON 
COMMERCE FOR ITA/OPB BRENDA CARTER-NIXON 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ETRD ECON ECPS TW
SUBJECT: Taiwan Telecom: NCC Crisis Averted? 
 
Reftel: 2007 Taipei 2370 
 
Summary 
------- 
 
1. (SBU) On December 20, 2007--the day before the end of the 
Legislative Yuan (LY) session--the LY reached a compromise between 
KMT and DPP legislators and passed an amendment to the National 
Communications Commission (NCC) Organization Law.  The amendment 
provides a legal basis for the authorities to appoint new 
Commissioners if the current seven Commissioners resign from office 
at the end of January.  Encouraged by the amendments and the new, 
larger KMT majority in the LY, the seven current NCC Commissioners 
are now considering staying on until their terms expire in December 
2008. End summary. 
 
Background 
---------- 
 
2. (SBU) The National Communications Commission (NCC) is an 
independent body established in February 2006 to regulate the 
telecommunications and broadcasting industries.  It is modeled after 
the U.S. Federal Communications Commission. Shortly after it was 
established, however, the future of the Commission was put in doubt 
as political bickering ensued over how much control the Executive 
Yuan (EY) would have to appoint Commissioners.  As originally 
structured, Taiwan's main political parties nominated candidates for 
the 13 NCC Commissioner spots in approximate proportion to each 
party's respective seats in the LY, and candidates were then 
confirmed by a panel whose members were also chosen by the LY 
(reftel). As the bickering continued, four Commissioners either quit 
or refused to take office, and in April 2007 the EY suspended two 
Commissioners for alleged improprieties.  There are currently only 
seven serving Commissioners, the minimum needed to make 
legally-binding decisions. 
 
3.  (SBU) Further complicating matters, in July 2006, Taiwan's 
highest court ruled that the current Commissioner-selection process 
was unconstitutional, since the EY has the exclusive authority under 
Taiwan's constitution to appoint personnel in all administrative 
agencies.  To give the authorities time to amend the NCC 
Organization Law, however, the court rules the current NCC 
Commissioners could stay on with full powers until the end of their 
three-year term on December 31, 2008.  The seven serving 
Commissioners--concerned about their ambiguous constitutional 
mandate--collectively decided that they would resign at the end of 
January 2008. 
 
Public and Industry Pressure Spurs Compromise 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
4.  (SBU) Over the next year and a half, there was little progress 
on the matter.  Industry grew concerned that a lame-duck NCC could 
halt television and radio license approvals and hamstring plans to 
begin or expand satellite and wireless broadcasting in Taiwan. 
Responding to these concerns, in December 2007, the speaker of the 
KMT-controlled LY, Wang Jin-pyng, arranged negotiations between the 
DPP and KMT, and on December 20, both sides reached a compromise for 
amending the NCC Organization Law.  Under the compromise, the 
Premier would put forward nominations that the LY would then review 
and approve. 
 
Size Reduced to Seven, Term Raised to Four Years 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
 
5. (SBU) Under the amended Law, which will take effect on February 
1, the number of Commissioners will be reduced from 13 to seven, and 
Commissioners' terms in office will be extended from three years to 
four, though the first group of Commissioners to be chosen under the 
amended Law will have two-year terms. In addition, the Law 
stipulates that Commissioners from the same political party cannot 
hold more than three seats, and also allows serving Commissioners to 
stay in office until successor Commissioners can be nominated and 
approved under the aforementioned procedures. 
 
Commissioners May Decide to Finish Terms 
---------------------------------------- 
 
6.  (SBU) The NCC could face a gap in operations if current 
Commissioners resign as planned at the end of January 2008, since 
the EY and LY will need at least several weeks to appoint new 
Commissioners after the LY returns to work on February 1--although 
if the new, KMT-dominated LY will not consider nominations by the 
expiring Chen administration, this gap could last for the entire 
three-month period until the new presidential administration takes 
office.  To avoid disruptions, LY Speaker Wang asked current 
 
TAIPEI 00000099  002 OF 002 
 
 
Commissioners to stay on until new Commissioners are appointed.  NCC 
Commissioner and Vice Chairman Howard Shyr recently told econoff 
that the seven current Commissioners are now considering this 
request. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
7. (SBU) Although the debate over the selection of NCC Commissioners 
has been highly partisan, the current Commissioners have worked 
together in a relatively collegial manner.  Industry, though, has 
been highly critical of the NCC, charging at various times that the 
Commission unfairly targets foreign firms and limits consumer choice 
by capping cable TV rates.  Despite this, we see it as a success 
that both political parties found a way to move forward on this 
issue, which if unsolved would have halted or delayed spectrum 
allocation decisions and license approvals for importing or 
upgrading broadcasting equipment (reftel).  We will continue to stay 
in close contact with current NCC Commissioners as they decide 
whether to resign this month as planned or stay on until 
end-December.  End comment.