MEDIA REACTION: CROSS-STRAIT RELATIONS, U.S.

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TAIPEI 002738

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, U.S.
ARMS SALES

Summary: Local politics and the fishing dispute
between Taiwan and Japan remained the focus of the
major Chinese-language Taipei dailies June 23. The pro-
independence "Taiwan Daily" did nonetheless run an
editorial discussing the possibility of both sides of
the Taiwan Strait moving towards unification. With the
unification model set by West and East Germany in mind,
and the recent discussion of the possible unification
of South and North Koreas, the editorial asserted that
only when China establishes a democratic system and
eliminates the differences between the two sides of the
Taiwan Strait can Taiwan and China unify. The limited-
circulation, pro-independence English-language "Taipei
Times" also looked past fishing and local politics to
run editorial discussing U.S. arms sales to Taiwan.
The editorial urged Washington to continue to exert
pressure on the Pan-Blue camp so as to pave a way for
passage of the arms bill in the Legislative Yuan. End
summary.


1. Cross-Strait Relations

"Only When China Establishes a Democratic and Free
System and Eliminates the Differences [between the Two]
Can Both Sides of the Taiwan Strait Create a Win-Win
Situation"

The pro-independence "Taiwan Daily" [circulation:
150,000] editorialized (6/23):

". If [we] view the development of the cross-Strait
situation from the `unification models' set [possibly]
by South and North Koreas and by East and West
Germanies, it is worth pondering that even though East
and West Germany and South and North Korea are
generally regarded as nation-states that share a common
language and are of a common ethnicity, their road to
unification [has been and will be] rugged and tough.
When we look at Taiwan and China, both are independent
sovereign states. But after having been ruled by
foreign races such as the Dutch, Japanese and Chinese
people, Taiwan has generated a culture and value system
that are distinct from those of China's. The big
differences between Taiwan and China, ranging from
their daily customs, languages, cultures, and social
values, are exactly the barriers to their unification.
Over these past years, many incidents have happened
during exchanges between both sides of the Taiwan
Strait, which are evidence that the divergence in
people's thoughts and values between the two sides of
the Taiwan Strait will not be eliminated but will be
enlarged due to these exchanges. In reality, the gap
present in the minds of the people on both sides of the
Taiwan Strait still exists.

"Even though voices in Taiwan calling for a closer
relationship with China and union with the Chinese
Communist Party (CCP) are strong, and the political
powers supporting this trend are large, too, both sides
of the Taiwan Strait cannot unify with each other
simply for the sake of unification. Should there be
the possibility of unification in the future, it must
be built on a system of democracy and freedom.
Taiwan's unification with China should not be a
situation that it is annexed or devoured by a bigger
country. Instead, Taiwan and China should establish a
cooperative partnership, putting aside their political
differences and working jointly for their economic
prosperity in an attempt to create a win-win situation
that will benefit the development of both sides.
Taiwan, on the other hand, also needs to strengthen its
democratization and localization concepts, deepen its
human rights education so as to resist the threats of
the pro-China and pro-CCP groups and face the various
kinds of united front attacks launched by China after
it enacted the Anti-Secession Law."


2. U.S. Arms Sales

"Allies Need to Face the Awful Truth"

The pro-independence, English-language "Taipei Times"
[circulation: 30,000] commented in an editorial (6/23):

". Before a united national identity can finally be
forged, Taiwan's allies and friends need to reflect on
just who their true friends in this country really are.

"Taiwan needs to be equipped with advanced weaponry to
strengthen its ability to defend itself against China's
military juggernaut.

"The US must continue to exert pressure, therefore, on
the pan-blue camp so that a road can be paved for the
passage of the arms bill."

PAAL