Cablegate: Taiwan: Results of Blue Lantern Pre-License Check
VZCZCXYZ0013
RR RUEHWEB
DE RUEHIN #1451 3430932
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 090932Z DEC 09
FM AIT TAIPEI
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 2901
UNCLAS AIT TAIPEI 001451
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/TC, PM/DTCC AND ISN/MTR
PM/DTCC FOR BLUE LANTERN COORDINATOR RACHAEL-THERESE S. JOUBERT-LIN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETTC KOMC TW
SUBJECT: TAIWAN: RESULTS OF BLUE LANTERN PRE-LICENSE CHECK
050198982
REF: A)STATE 00119190, B)BANDAR SER 282
1. (U) Summary: Per reftel A request, AIT/Taipei Economic officer
visited the subject consignee, Long Sion Corp., and talked to the
chairperson Mr. Charlie Chen. An on-site check of the company and
the responses from Mr. Chen appear to confirm the bona fides of this
consignee. End summary.
Long Sion
---------
2. (U) On December 1, AIT Economic Section staff visited General
Manager Charlie Chen (Chen Zhiqing) at his offices in Taoyuan City.
Mr. Frank Liu (Liu Jikang), Manager of Founders & Company, Ltd,
attended the meeting at Mr. Chen's invitation.
3. (U) Liu said his company is the regional representative for
General Dynamics in some Asian areas. According to Mr. Liu, after
Thailand-based Itthiporn Import Company signed a contract for reftel
items with the end user, the Armed Forces Security Center in
Thailand, Itthiporn reached out to Mr. Denny C.C. Yang, Managing
Director of the Jackson Electronics (Thailand) Company, Ltd. for
help in ordering the receiver. Yang then contacted Liu for the
subject item due to Liu's experience in ordering U.S.-origin items.
Liu told Econoff that he then asked Long Sion's Chen to serve as the
trading company for the deal.
4. (U) According to the Taoyuan County registration certificate
provided by Chen, Long Sion was established in February 2002. Chen
indicated to us that Long Sion's main business is producing
electronic products and components, especially for LED displays and
tubes, for clients located mainly in Taiwan, Japan, and Europe.
This business is conducted entirely through sub-contractors in
Taiwan and the PRC.
5. (U) According to Chen, he has established "paper companies" in
both Hong Kong and Brunei for tax purposes. Long Sion does not
physically handle any goods, and will not receive reftel equipment,
which will be shipped directly to Thailand from the United States.
Mr. Chen said that he understands USML restrictions.
6. (U) Long Sion Corp.'s address is No. 224, Tung De 5 St., Taoyuan
City, Taiwan. The phone number is 886-3-216-0030, and the fax number
is 886-3-215-0420. Mr. Chen's cell phone numbers are 0988-387-863
and 0932-812-960.
Founders & Co., Ltd
-------------------
7. (U) Liu--who described his role in this deal as "technical
advisor"--said he has been dealing in military-related sensitive
commodities for more than 20 years. Liu said almost all of his
business is with units of the Taiwan military, and that 99 percent
of his orders are for U.S.-origin products. Liu said he also
imports guns for Taiwan police offices.
8. (U) Founders & Co.'s address is 7F-5, No. 1, Lane 106, Sec. 3,
Ba-de Rd., Taipei City, Taiwan. The telephone number is
886-2-2579-3320, and the fax number is 886-2-2579-3321. Mr. Liu's
cell phone number is 0932-040-287.
9. (U) Mr. Denny Yang, Managing Director of the Jackson Electronics
(Thailand) Co., can be reached at telephone number 662-398-6521, or
by fax at 662-398-6527. His cell phone number is 081-831-7592.
The company is located at 947/36 Moo 12 Bangna-Trad Road., Km.3.2,
Bangna, Bangkok, Thailand.
Comment
-------
10. (U) From our visit with Messrs. Chen and Liu, we surmise that
because the trading company in Thailand, Itthiporn, has no
experience acquiring reftel equipment, the company asked for help
from a Thailand-based Taiwan trader, Denny Yang, who then contacted
Liu to have the equipment ordered. Liu, who is unable to finance
the deal, then involved his friend Chen. Since the reftel item will
not transit Taiwan, we recommend PM/DTCC approve reftel license
application only after assessing the bona fides of the Thailand
consignee and end-user. End comment.
STANTON