Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05TAIPEI1898
2005-04-23 00:06:00
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.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TAIPEI 001898 

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 001898

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: As newspapers in Taiwan continued their
coverage April 22 of the upcoming China trips by KMT
Chairman Lien Chan and PFP Chairman James Soong, the
focus shifted to the U.S. attitude toward the trips.
The centrist "China Times" ran a banner headline on its
front page that read: "Secret meetings prior to [Lien's
and Soong's] departure; Lien and Soong talked to the
United States about their trips to China." The sub-
headline added: "Lien Chan met with [AIT Taipei
Director] Doug Paal Wednesday; James Soong also met
with a U.S. official Monday." A page-two news story of
the "China Times" also headlined: "From hinting to
supporting; United States welcomes and looks favorably
on Lien's visit to mainland China," and the sub-
headline said: "[Washington] clearly indicates `China
trip is a positive step' and believes dialogue is the
route to resolve cross-Strait tensions. The United
States will not get involved should the meeting between
Lien and [Chinese President] Hu Jintao trigger inner
disputes inside Taiwan." The pro-independence "Liberty
Times," Taiwan's biggest daily, and the pro-unification
"United Daily News," both carried U.S. Deputy
Department of State Spokesman Adam Ereli's remarks that
the recent travel to China by Taiwan individuals are
positive steps. A front-page news story in the pro-
independence "Taiwan Daily" and a page-two news story
in the pro-independence "Liberty Times," on the other
hand, reported on a press conference held by former
President Lee Teng-hui in which he lashed out at the
upcoming visits to China by Lien and Soong, calling the
trips "collusion with the Chinese Communist Party and a
sell-out of Taiwan." Lee also emphasized that cross-
Strait tension is an international issue that should be
tackled by Washington, Tokyo, Taipei and Beijing in a
conference held in the United States.


2. A "China Times" news analysis said the cross-Strait
situation, if as manageable as it appears to be now, is
the most favorable status for the United States; any
attempt to sabotage the status quo, either via
unification or Taiwan independence, is not an option
for the United States. A "United Daily News" editorial
views the China trips by Lien and Soong as turning
points following more than ten years of a `trial-and-

error process' regarding cross-Strait relations. The
editorial said it would be a "win-win" situation for
both sides if the talks succeed, and neither side will
win if they fail. End summary.

A) "One China Is Not the Major Issue, `Free
Interpretation' [of the One China] by Both Sides of the
Taiwan Strait Is the [Real] Bottom Line"

Journalist Luo Ju-lan noted in a news analysis of the
centrist, pro-status quo "China Times" [circulation:
600,000] (4/22):

". For cross-Strait relations, `tensions' across the
Taiwan Strait, if as manageable as they appear to be
now, [create] the most favorable status for the United
States. Both sides of the Taiwan Strait anticipate the
intervention of the United States - one side has its
[potential market for] economics and trade as a
bargaining chip while the other side has the need to
buy weapons [from the United States], and of course no
one will reject the situation when it is welcomed by
both sides. Therefore, any attempt to sabotage the
status quo, either by unification or [Taiwan]
independence, is not an option for the United States.

"Both the Pan-Blue and Pan-Green Camps are clearly
aware of such an `international reality,' so they are
vying to stick labels on each other. The Green Camp
claims that the Blue is moving toward unification,
while the Blue Camp says the Green is pursuing Taiwan
independence; both sides are competing for support from
the United States. Washington's attitude is also like
a scale with weights that tries to strike a balance; it
shows support for the China trips by [KMT Chairman]
Lien Chan and [PFP Chairman] James Soong, but in the
meantime, it also calls on Beijing to start a dialogue
with the Taiwan administration. .

"The United States has many times expressed its support
for the `1992 consensus' and has urged President Chen
Shui-bian to say something about the consensus in his
inaugural speeches. `One China with both sides free to
interpret what it means' is Washington's `bottom line,'
but it cannot say it directly to the KMT, and the focus
[of the bottom line] lies really in `the free
interpretation by both sides' rather than the `one
China.' Even though Washington's position made known
to the international community is that it adheres to
the `one China' [policy], the ruling and opposition
parties in Taiwan still need to keep their differences
regarding the one China, otherwise if the interaction
across the Taiwan Strait leans toward `unification,'
the cross-Strait situation may become more difficult to
control.

"If [we] are to judge Lien's trip of peace based on
this [assumption], under the interactive constraints of
the triangular relationship between Washington, Taipei
and Beijing, it will be difficult for Lien to achieve
any breakthroughs with regard to Taiwan's sovereignty
issue. At most, both sides can return to the ambiguity
of `free interpretation' [of the one China] whereas
Beijing acknowledges the fact that both sides of the
Taiwan Strait are ruled separately and tacitly
recognizes the existence of the Republic of China.
There is of course a long distance from such a
development to the final `unification,' but since
tension will be alleviated and status quo maintained,
Lien's trip will be a result that both Washington and
Beijing are happy to see."

B) "If Both Lien and Soong Could Visit Mainland China
with Chen Shui-bian's Blessing"

The pro-unification "United Daily News" [circulation:
600,000] editorialized (4/22):

". Lien's and Soong's visits to mainland China this
time are the first major personal meetings between
senior political leaders of both sides of the Taiwan
Strait over the past 56 years. The visits are also the
first-ever turning point following the more than ten
years of `try-and-error process' of the cross-Strait
relations. Not only the thoughts of the people on both
sides of the Taiwan Strait but also the whole world's
attention will focus on these visits. As a result, it
should not be regarded as an exaggeration if we say the
visits by Lien and Soong `must be successful.' If Lien
and Soong have successful separate trips to China, it
will be a win-win situation for both sides. If they
fail, neither side of the Taiwan Strait wins. .

"For Taiwan in particular, it should not view these
trips simply as programs for Lien or Soong or for the
KMT or the PFP. Taiwan should see the visits as a
development commonly yearned by both the ruling and
opposition parties of Taiwan. ."

PAAL