MEDIA REACTION: FORMER DEPUTY ASSISTANT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TAIPEI 002990

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: FORMER DEPUTY ASSISTANT
SECRETARY OF STATE RANDY SCHRIVER'S TAIWAN TRIP, NORTH

SIPDIS
KOREA


1. Summary: Almost all the major Chinese-language
Taipei dailies reported in their inside pages July 12
on the visit by former Deputy Assistant Secretary of
State Randy Schriver to Taipei. The pro-independence
"Liberty Times," Taiwan's biggest daily, carried a news
story on page four with the headline: "Randy Schriver:
One China is just part of the elements of the United
States' Taiwan Policy." The centrist "China Times" ran
a story on its cross-Strait news page with the
headline: "Randy Schriver visits [Taiwan] and starts
arguments over the [U.S.] arms deal." The pro-
independence "Taiwan Daily" also topped a story with
the headline: "[KMT Chairman] Lien Chan meets with
Randy Schriver [and said]: It is the Bian
administration that has blocked the arms procurement
bill." The pro-unification "United Daily News" carried
a news story that was topped with: "Randy Schriver: It
is very dangerous to include national defense budget
into a referendum."


2. In terms of editorials, an editorial in the "Taiwan
Daily" strongly criticized KMT Chairman Lien Chan's
remarks Monday that put the blame for the stalled U.S.
arms procurement bill on the DPP government. The
editorial said the U.S. government and American
friends, including Schriver, should not be hoodwinked
by Lien. An editorial in the limited-circulation, pro-
independence, English-language "Taiwan News" commented
on the crisis concerning North Korea, noting that
Taiwan should closely track economic developments on
the Korean peninsula and actively participate in
developments. End summary.


1. Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Randy
Schriver's Taiwan Trip

"[KMT Chairman] Lien Chan's Move to Put the Blame for
the Stalled Arms Deal on the Government Is a Failed
Attempt to Cover up His Pro-China, No-Taiwan, and Anti-
U.S. Route"

The pro-independence "Taiwan Daily" [circulation:
150,000] noted in an editorial (7/12):

"Former U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Randy
Schriver called on KMT Chairman Lien Chan Monday
morning to express Washington's concern over the arms
deals and the possibility of holding a meeting between
[President] Chen Shui-bian and [Chinese President] Hu
Jintao. According to the account relayed by KMT
Spokesperson Cheng Li-wen afterwards, Lien said he had
no idea how the DPP government would promote the `Bian-
Hu meeting' since Chen totally denies the 1992
Consensus and [official] interaction across the Taiwan
Strait is extremely difficult. With regard to the arms
procurement bill, Lien said the obstruction [of the
bill's passage] `actually comes from within the DPP
government.' Lien's statement is both very daring and
shameful because he not only treats the U.S. government
and Schriver as idiots but also sees the Taiwan people,
who know perfectly why the arms procurement bill has
failed to pass, as nothing.

"In Taiwan, everybody knows that the DPP is proactively
promoting the passage of the arms procurement bill, and
everybody knows that [Taiwan] Defense Minister Lee Jye
has repeated several times that he would step down if
the arms procurement bill fails to pass. Instead, it
is the opposition Pan-Blue Camp and their caucuses in
the Legislative Yuan that have tried all they can to
block and thwart the passage of the arms procurement
bill. Such a fact is well and widely known by Taiwan
society, and nobody would think that it is the ruling
party that wants to block the bill or is itself an
obstruction to the bill's passage. The U.S. government
surely knows [this fact] very clearly, or Schriver
would not have to come to Taiwan to lobby Lien. .

"As a matter of fact, Lien was just attempting to cover
up [his intent]. The KMT, under Lien's leadership, is
opposed to the passage of the arms procurement bill and
has deliberately hindered it. Its move is in essence a
reflection Lien's pro-China and anti-U.S. position. .

"In a nutshell, the U.S. arms procurement bill is
against China's interests and will generate obstacles
to China's attempt to use force to annex Taiwan. China
is opposed to the U.S. arms deals, so Lien must do what
China expects him to do and what fits China's
interests, namely, to oppose the arms deals that would
help to safeguard Taiwan against China's threats. [It
is as] simple as that. We believe that American
friends and the U.S. government, including Schriver,
can definitely understand such logic and will not be
hoodwinked by Lien. ."


2. North Korea

"Taiwan Should Prepare for Future Role in Region"

The pro-independence, English-language "Taiwan News"
[circulation: 20,000] editorialized (7/12):

". Therefore, maintaining the status quo on the Korean
Peninsula will continue to be the first priority for
Washington. Although North Korea's nuclear threat to
the U.S. position in Northeast Asia and to Japan and
South Korea is far from resolved, Washington is being
pulled and pushed into having to consider the strategic
option of a policy of comprehensive engagement toward
North Korea.

"Under this option, Washington will adopt direct or
indirect measures to encourage North Korea to improve
her weak economy and thereby try to foster peaceful
evolution instead of launching costly effort at
military regime change. .

"The adoption of an engagement policy by the U.S. could
offer important benefits for North Korea and for the
region generally. With the adoption of engagement
policies toward Pyongyang as well as toward Beijing,
Northeastern Asia can hopefully look forward to a more
relaxed environment that will be more conducive to
economic development. .

"Taiwan's government and private sector should closely
track developments in the Korean peninsula and
Northeast Asian region in general, especially since the
continuing tide of globalization will necessarily
intensify the importance of the regional economies in
Northeast Asia and Southeast Asia. .

"As the Asia-Pacific region is undergoing a further
stage of deepening economic cooperation, war will not
fit our regional priorities. Values of peace,
stability and prosperity should be emphasized, and we
hope sincerely that the hawkish neoconservative camp in
Washington can learn enough from the disaster in Iraq
to give peace a chance on the Korean peninsula."

KEEGAN