MEDIA REACTION: Cross-Strait Affairs

UNCLAS TAIPEI 002650

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 Affairs


1. Summary: Taiwan dailies focused June 16 on the dispute
between Taiwan and Japan regarding their overlapping
exclusive economic zones, and China's plan that would allow
Taiwan people to work in China. The conservative, pro-
unification "United Daily News" carried a headline banner on
its front page that read: "CCP Greatly Loosens Its
Restrictions To Allow The Taiwan People To Work In China."


2. Taiwan dailies editorialized and commented June 16 on
local issues (e.g. a new retirement plan for laborers, the
government's plan regarding a minimum tax scheme) and the
Taiwan-Japan relationship (e.g. protest held by Taiwan
aboriginal Legislator May Chin in front of Japan's Yasukuni
Shrine). The pro-independence "Liberty Times," however,
commented on an incident where a local Taiwan college
removed the national flag and a portrait of Dr. Sun Yat-sen
in order to show goodwill to Chinese guests. The "Liberty
Times" editorialized that the incident shows that a minority
of Taiwan people lack a Taiwan-centered identity. End
summary.

A) "The Incident of the Removal of the National Flag Is A
Shameful Behavior That Has Disgraced The Country"

The pro-independence "Liberty Times" [circulation:
800,000](06/16) editorialized:

". As a matter of fact, one cannot view the incident [where]
the Hsiuping Institute removed the national flag and the
portrait of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, founder of the Republic of
China, as a single case. It, however, reflects a fact that
a minority of the Taiwan people has a confused and a
vacillating attitude regarding a Taiwan-centered identity,
and lacks a concrete national identity. Consequently,
Taiwan has lost its position, and lowered its status even
before Taiwan would benefit from cross-Strait exchanges.
During the recent fishery disputes between Taiwan and Japan,
some politicians, disregarding Taiwan's difficult situation
in the international community, criticized the government's
negligence in protecting Taiwan fishermen, and advocated
that Taiwan fishermen should hang the PRC's national flag on
their boats [in order to get China's protection]. The fact
also showed the abnormal attitude [of some Taiwan people]
that tries to depreciate the status of their country [i.e.
Taiwan], and to view China as the mother country. Hence,
the Hsiuping incident is just the tip of an iceberg, which
distinctively indicates that Taiwan is facing a serious
crisis of national identity. ."

PAAL