Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05TAIPEI2908
2005-07-05 08:44:00
UNCLASSIFIED
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Cable title:  

MEDIA REACTION: U.S.-TAIWAN RELATIONS

Tags:  OPRC KMDR KPAO TW 
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TAIPEI 002908

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: The major Taipei dailies continued to focus on
local politics, public hazards and a financial fraud
scandal July 2-5. Some newspapers, however, discussed
in their editorials Taiwan's legal status, U.S.-Taiwan
relations, and President Chen Shui-bian's first ever
"National Security Report" (to be released in late
July). The pro-independence "Taiwan Daily" editorial
echoed a suggestion by former Taiwan President Lee Teng-
hui, who said Taiwan should discuss Taiwan's legal
status with the United States. A limited-circulation,
conservative, pro-unification, English-language "China
Post" editorial elaborated on AIT Director Douglas
Paal's remarks at the July 4th celebration in Taipei
last Friday, saying that while Taiwan is not a
protectorate of the United States, Taiwan leaders take
relations with Washington very seriously as the United
States is Taiwan's best friend. A limited-circulation,
pro-independence, English-language "Taiwan News"
editorial discussed the "rise of China," the United
States' reaction to it and how Taiwan should deal with
it in terms of U.S.-Taiwan relations. End summary.

A) "The [Taiwan] Government Should Discuss with the
United States Taiwan's Legal Status; Clarifying
Taiwan's Sovereignty [Issue] Is the Common Wish of All
Taiwan People"

The pro-independence "Taiwan Daily" [circulation
150,000] editorialized (7/5):

". In particular, following Taiwan's democratization,
the Taiwan people have elected their president for the
third time. [The Taiwan people] have their own
government and congress; all these facts have made
Taiwan a practically independent nation. It is thus a
top priority for both the ruling and opposition parties
in Taiwan to work on such a new political fact and to
thoroughly resolve the international political topic
[concerning Taiwan's status], which was left unresolved
since the [end of] the Second World War and to let
Taiwan's sovereignty return to the hands of the Taiwan
people and the government they elect.

"Former President Lee Teng-hui believes that Taiwan
should discuss Taiwan's legal status with the U.S.
government. Lee's proposal is of course the right
remedial step to correct Taiwan's unresolved status. .
We believe that the government should follow Lee's
suggestion and discuss Taiwan's legal status with the
U.S. government in an attempt to return Taiwan's
sovereignty to the hands of the Taiwan people, as what
the status quo is, and to get Taiwan out of the myth
and illusion of `one China,' to become a normal country
and return to the international community. ."

B) "Friends Deserve Respect for Commitment to Shared
Values"

The conservative, pro-status quo, English-language
"China Post" [circulation: 30,000] noted in an
editorial (7/4):

". At a recent event in Taipei held to mark the
occasion, Douglas Paal, the de facto U.S. ambassador to
our country, told his audience that Taiwan will always
have a friend in the United States as long as we
continue on the path of freedom and democracy.

"In his remarks, Paal noted that democratic values
shared by both Taiwan and the United States from the
basis of a lasting friendship that grows every day. .

"While Taiwan is not a protectorate of the United
States and certainly does not take orders from
Washington, leaders here take relations with the United
States very seriously and work hard to coordinate
efforts with friends in Washington, as the United
States is truly Taiwan's best friend. .

"While we should never expect or rely upon the United
States to dig us out of every mess we get into, we
should treat the United States with the respect that a
good friend deserves at a time when we are truly in
need of a good friend."

C) "Security Policy Needs Vision"

The pro-independence, English-language "Taiwan News"
[circulation: 20,000] commented in an editorial (7/4):

". Looking more broadly, the touted `rise of China'
encompasses a complicated and possibly explosive
mixture of economic dynamism, an intensified military
build-up, a rising potential for social instability, a
possible lose of control by the political center and
even a degree of opportunity for a political opening
for democratization.

"Nevertheless, the mainstream thinking in the
international community - led by the United States -
remains preoccupied with a policy of `con-gagement,' a
combination of containment and engagement, to develop
their relationships with the PRC.

"Taiwan must honestly recognize the existence of this
international reality and prioritize its national
security policies and work to achieve a balance of
power that supports Taiwan's democracy and cross-strait
peace. ."

KEEGAN