Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05TAIPEI2752
2005-06-24 08:47:00
UNCLASSIFIED
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Cable title:  

MEDIA REACTION: U.S. ARMS SALES TO TAIWAN

Tags:  OPRC KMDR KPAO TW 
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UNCLAS TAIPEI 002752 

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. ARMS SALES TO TAIWAN

UNCLAS TAIPEI 002752

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. ARMS SALES TO TAIWAN


1. Summary: As the Taipei dailies continued to keep
their eyes on local politics and a local public
security incident, the pro-independence "Liberty
Times," Taiwan's biggest daily, carried a news story on
page two that reported on Acting Under Secretary of
Commerce Peter Lichtenbaum's testimony before a
Congressional hearing Thursday; it carried the
headline: "United States bans exports of sensitive
military and civil dual-use technology to China." The
sub-headline added: "Acting [U.S.] under secretary of
commerce testifies before a Congressional hearing that
[his Department] will propose new restrictions to
strengthen control of exports to China; [He] also names
China's semi-conductor plants as a big challenge [for
the United States]."


2. The limited-circulation, pro-independence, English-
language "Taiwan Daily" ran an editorial criticizing
the upcoming KMT chairmanship election. The editorial
also criticized the Pan-Blue Camp's attempt to block
the bill governing U.S. arms sales to Taiwan in the
Legislative Yuan. End summary.

"Taiwan Must Reject KMT's Jingoism"

The pro-independence "Taiwan News" [circulation:
20,000] editorialized (6/24):

". The opposition KMT and its shrinking splinter People
First Party have already made significant
`contributions to the cause of unification' by blocking
the NT$480 billion purchase of advanced defensive
weapons by Taiwan from Washington.

"These systems, especially the proffered eight diesel-
electric submarines and P-3C `Orion' submarine hunting
aircraft, would play a major role in enhancing the
overall quality of anti-submarine defenses from the
Luzon Strait through Taiwan and Japan's Okinawa island
chain.

"Breaking the U.S.-managed line of dense in the western
Pacific, which stands in the way of the PRC's ambitions
to become an ocean-based naval power, is one of
Beijing's top strategic priorities.

"The sensitivity of this region was demonstrated by the
repeated prowling of the area by PRC surveillance ships
and by China's attempt to slip a submarine through the
Okinawa chain last November that sparked a formal
protest to Beijing by Tokyo.

"Regardless of sovereignty issue, the bottom line is
that it is absolutely in Taiwan's best interests that
another democracy, namely Japan, continues to exercise
substantial control over the Diaoyutais.

"The only real-world alternative is allowing the zone
to become a sieve for surface or submarine naval
incursions by a hostile and authoritarian PRC. ."

PAAL