Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05TAIPEI1591
2005-04-01 08:40:00
UNCLASSIFIED
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Cable title:  

MEDIA REACTION: CROSS-STRAIT RELATIONS

Tags:  OPRC KMDR KPAO TW 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

010840Z Apr 05
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TAIPEI 001591 

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR INR/R/MR, EAP/RSP/TC, EAP/PA, EAP/PD -
ROBERT PALLADINO
DEPARTMENT PASS AIT/WASHINGTON

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO TW
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: CROSS-STRAIT RELATIONS


UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TAIPEI 001591

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR INR/R/MR, EAP/RSP/TC, EAP/PA, EAP/PD -
ROBERT PALLADINO
DEPARTMENT PASS AIT/WASHINGTON

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO TW
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: CROSS-STRAIT RELATIONS



1. Summary: Coverage of the major Chinese-language
Taipei dailies continued to focus on KMT Vice Chairman
P.K. Chiang's visit to China and the ten-point
consensus reached between the KMT and the Chinese
Communist Party (CCP). Several newspapers reported on
either their front or first few pages that KMT Chairman
Lien Chan is likely to visit China and meet with
Chinese President Hu Jintao in May at the invitation of
Chinese People's Political Consultative Committee
Chairman Jia Qinlin. The centrist "China Times"
reported on page two that an anonymous U.S. Department
of State official said Thursday the United States is
happy to see any move that could reduce cross-Strait
tensions and welcomes cross-Strait visits to solve
differences between Taiwan and China.


2. A pro-independence "Liberty Times" editorial
questioned the DPP government's "effective opening"
policy toward Taiwan investment in China, saying that
if the DPP continues to implement the policy, it will
give Taiwan people sufficient reasons to suspect that
the DPP is manipulating the Taiwan people's patriotism
and is actually pursuing a strategy to unify with
China. A "China Times" editorial, however, urged both
sides of the Taiwan Strait to give up military
confrontation and to start a "peaceful race" with each
other. A news analysis in the "United Daily News"
commented on Chiang's visit to China, saying Beijing is
seizing this opportunity to "kill two birds with one
stone," namely, to show the Americans that it is as
good as its word and yet squeeze the space for "Taiwan
independence secessionists" in Taiwan and in the world.
End summary.

A) "Can Taiwan People's Morale Incited during the March
26 [Mass Rally] Afford to Take the Fall of the
Government?"

The pro-independence "Liberty Times" [circulation:
800,000] noted in an editorial (4/1):

". The DPP officials, on the one hand, cried that the
`Anti-Secession Law' is a war authorization bill and
asked the Taiwan people to voice [their anger]. But on
the other hand, they said that the policy of `effective
opening' [Taiwan investment in the Chinese market]
remains unchanged and that Taiwan is awaiting China's
goodwill response. Just imagine -- if the Anti-
Secession Law is a war authorization bill, how can

Taiwan expect any goodwill gesture from China unless
the latter abolishes the law[?] It is really
astonishing to see the fallacy and confusion of our
government's policy when it is talking about opening
investment of high-tech and petrochemical industries in
a country [i.e. China] that can launch a war against
Taiwan at anytime. .

"We have no intention to criticize the government; we
just hope that the government can make up its mind and
be determined to face the fallacy of its effective
opening policy. . If the government fails again to obey
the strong public view demonstrated during the March 26
mass rally and continues to misread public opinion by
allowing further interactions with China and pushing
for direct cross-Strait charter flights to meet the
needs of Taiwan investors in China, we may not be able
to judge, but will have sufficient reasons to suspect
and speculate that the DPP is just trying to use
localized language to manipulate the patriotism of the
Taiwan people. We will suspect that what the DPP is
doing is really pursuing final unification [with
China]. . We hope that under the wise leadership of
the DPP, the March 26 mass rally will not become the
beginning of another fall of Taiwan."

B) "Facing Taiwan, China Must Make a Choice between Non-
Peace and Peace"

The centrist, pro-status quo "China Times"
[circulation: 600,000] editorialized (4/1):

"Beijing's enactment and announcement of the Anti-
Secession Law in mid-March has sparked doubts in the
international community and triggered backlashes from
the people in Taiwan. In terms of the long-term
development of cross-Strait relations, the move also
indicated that under the constraint of the
international community, which is headed by the United
States, the bottom lines that Taiwan must not declare
independence and Beijing must not use force [against
Taiwan] will become clearer and clearer. There will be
less space left for ambiguity or for both sides to push
the envelope. As a result, both sides of the Taiwan
Strait will have to find a favorable foundation of
their own where they can settle down under this
framework and even develop a reciprocal cooperative
pattern with each other. .

". Therefore, we need to remind the Beijing authorities
once again that when working out relevant policies
toward Taiwan, it must seek to sincerely create a
situation that is favorable for both sides to interact
and cooperate peacefully. It must not speak sweet
words while being ready to plant a sword in [Taiwan's]
back or play a double-handed strategy, nor must it
regard every move as a means of achieving a united
front. ."

C) "Beijing Tries to Show the Americans That It Is `As
Good As Its Word'"

Journalist Wang Li-chuan commented in the conservative,
pro-unification "United Daily News" [circulation:
600,000] (4/1):

". Beijing's move [with regard to KMT Vice Chairman
P.K. Chiang's visit] can be viewed as `killing two
birds with one stone;' namely, it opens up a new
channel for dialogue for both sides of the Taiwan
Strait, and in the meantime, it has reacted positively
to the United States and the international community
which expect China to adopt measures to reduce the
cross-Strait tensions triggered by the Anti-Secession
Law. Beijing, seizing the chance of Chiang's visit and
thereby pushing for talks between the KMT and CCP,
attempts to develop an atmosphere of reconciliation
across the Taiwan Strait and then gradually putting
forward steps or plans to alleviate cross-Strait
tensions. Beijing's move has not only made the KMT
look good but also has convinced Washington that it is
`as good as its words.' On the other hand, Beijing can
complete its strategic planning for Taiwan step by step
as it planned and squeeze the space for `Taiwan
independence secessionists' in Taiwan and in the
world."

PAAL