Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05TAIPEI2702
2005-06-21 08:41:00
UNCLASSIFIED
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Cable title:  

MEDIA REACTION: U.S.-TAIWAN RELATIONS

Tags:  OPRC KMDR KPAO TW 
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UNCLAS TAIPEI 002702

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: U.S.-TAIWAN RELATIONS

Summary: While the major Chinese-language dailies in
Taiwan June 21 continued to focus on local politics and
the Taiwan government's action to protect its fishermen
from being chased and detained by Japanese government
ships, former National Security Council Deputy
Secretary-General Antonio Chiang commented in "Apple

SIPDIS
Daily" on the remarks by Georgetown University's
Institute for the Study of Diplomacy Professor Robert
Sutter in "Pacific Forum" the other day in which Sutter
said U.S. diplomatic intervention played a critical
role in the direction of Taiwan's political
development. According to Chiang, the United States
has become more and more explicit and direct in the way
it interferes in Taiwan's affairs, and this poses a
great challenge to the strong establishment of a Taiwan-
centered identity. End summary.

"The Intervention of Big Brother U.S."

Former National Security Council Deputy Secretary-
General Antonio Chiang noted in the mass-circulation
"Apple Daily" [circulation: 500,000] (6/21):

". Over the past two years, Washington has gradually
abandoned its ambiguous position and has been becoming
clearer and clearer about its policy toward Taiwan. In
order to prevent both sides of the Taiwan Strait from
having any misunderstandings [regarding] Washington,
[and] especially in an effort not to let Taiwan hold
any unrealistic illusions [about Washington], the words
that Washington uses [when speaking to Taiwan] sounds
less and less polite; they even have gone beyond the
normal courtesy kept by a diplomat.

"When it comes to the private channels, the American
Institute in Taiwan (AIT) plays an important role.
Despite its low-profile manner, the AIT does a very
thorough job in passing messages [on behalf of
Washington to Taipei]. Washington has emphasized
repeatedly that AIT Director Douglas Paal works on
behalf of the U.S. government and not for himself.
[Such emphases have been made] because Taipei has some
veiled criticisms about Paal's style.

"Paal's role is in fact a tiring but thankless one
because his job is usually not rewarded with fruitful
results. Paal is usually responsible for delivering
unpleasant messages to Taipei. Quite a lot of people
in Taipei hope that Paal will leave his position
earlier [rather than later], believing that another
person assigned by and representing Washington would
have a better understanding of Taiwan's situation.

"Washington, however, believes that Paal does a good
job and that only he can effectively implement
President George W. Bush's policy, so it wants him to
stay for a while.

"Reliable sources said more than ten U.S. intelligence
units have called meetings in the first half of 2004 to
discuss Taiwan's situation. Their conclusions were
that [President] A-bian is a politician who tilts
heavily towards Taiwan independence. In order to leave
him no room for using tricks in shortcuts and finesse,
[they believe] the United States must constantly
express a clear and firm position and they must let A-
bian know that the U.S. intervention will do him no
good.

"[Georgetown University's Institute for the Study of
Diplomacy Professor] Robert Sutter is well-versed in
the Taiwan affairs. Even though he is now teaching in
Georgetown University, he still maintains a close
relationship with the U.S. government. Sutter seems to
be over self-confident about Washington's Taiwan
policy, but his remarks did reflect the attitude of
many people in Washington toward Taiwan and their
evaluation toward A-bian.

"Nonetheless, the way that the U.S. big brother
intervenes in Taiwan's affairs has become more explicit
and more direct, which will pose a great challenge to
the [establishment of a] Taiwan-centered identity."

PAAL