MEDIA REACTION: BUSH'S INAUGURAL SPEECH, U.S.-

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TAIPEI 000347

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: BUSH'S INAUGURAL SPEECH, U.S.-
CHINA-TAIWAN RELATIONS



1. Bush's Inaugural Speech

A) "Taiwan Will Not Be Alone on Its Road to Fight
against Totalitarianism and Tyranny"

The pro-independence "Liberty Times" editorialized
(1/27):

". Honestly speaking, President Bush's inaugural
address for his second term may be viewed as the most
idealistic speech since [President] Kennedy's in the
1960s, as it was able to precisely demonstrate the
spirit of the founding fathers of the United States,
which has been passed on through the Declaration of
Independence and the U.S. Constitution. .

". President Bush's address is both enlightening and
inspiring. Some people may question the United States'
on-going war on terrorism, but without the American
people's willingness to shoulder the costs of war and
to sacrifice themselves, how could tyrannies like
Saddam Hussein's regime and the Taliban regime ever be
overthrown? How long will the oppressed people of
Afghanistan and Iraq wait for the day when they can be
the masters of their countries?

"In the real environment of the international
community, China is sometimes regarded by the United
States as a `strategic rival' or a `strategic partner.'
It is nonetheless a power that the United States cannot
deny or not interact with. . China may share something
in common and can thus work with the United States on
certain issues of practical interest, but Taiwan's
ideal to implement democracy and freedom, and its
protection of human rights and social justice can all
the more permanently match up with the spirit on which
the United States was founded. It is the right
direction for Taiwan to choose democracy and
independence. Judged by the spirit conveyed by
President Bush's inaugural speech, Taiwan people will
never feel lonely when they choose to walk on the road
that insists on human dignity and resists
totalitarianism and tyranny. It will and must win the
moral support of all democracy- and freedom-loving
peoples."

B) "From Axis of Evil to Outposts of Tyranny"

Lin Cheng-yi, Research Fellow and Director of the
Institute of International Relations, National Chengchi
University, noted in the centrist, pro-status quo
"China Times" (1/27):

". The Bush administration, during its second term,
will shift its foreign policy-making center to the
State Department headed by Condoleezza Rice, and it
will attach great importance to public diplomacy and
transformation diplomacy. .

"The Bush administration wants to promote democracy and
freedom outside the United States, and it has announced
that the United States will work with Taiwan to
introduce Taiwan's democratic experiences to other
countries. Taiwan rarely has a chance to play the role
as leverage between China and the United States. The
Bush administration's announcement of its foreign
policy direction and the forming of Taiwan's new
cabinet as well as its renewed focus on democratic
diplomacy have all joined together to shed some light
on the stalemated mutual trust between Washington and
Taipei."


2. U.S.-China-Taiwan Relations

A) "Taiwan Needs Strategy to Deal with PRC Law"

The pro-independence, English-language "Taiwan News"
commented in an editorial (1/27):

". For the PRC, the anti-secession law would be only a
transformed version of its `one China principle.' In
other words, Beijing is asserting the right to
unilaterally define the status quo and block Washington
and, of course, Taiwan itself from promoting their own
definitions.

"The anti-secession law aims to serve as a major piece
of propaganda and a diplomatic leverage to subvert the
U.S.-Taiwan relationship.

"In addition, the Chinese Communist Party aims to
impose its own model of martial law on Taiwanese
citizens who express views, whether in China or in
Taiwan, that are not in accordance with Beijing's
ambitions to annex Taiwan.

"In any case, it is evident that Beijing's anti-
secession law is a logically absurd feint to provide a
legal pretext for the CCP's intention to annex Taiwan
by any means necessary, including military force. .

". [T]he best policy for Taiwan may be to energetically
explain to the world the nature of Beijing's game but
to adopt a more moderate stance in action in order to
earn international sympathy."

B) "U.S. Policy an Obstacle for Taiwan"

Lin Cheng-yi, Director of the Institute of European and
American Studies at Academia Sinica, said in the pro-
independence, English-language "Taipei Times" (1/27):

". US policy is contradictory, and it has a double
standard toward democracy. It supports Taiwan's
democracy, but does not support its desire for self-
determination. The US either acknowledges or agrees
with China's `one China' principle, but doesn't have
the courage to openly regard Taiwan as a part of China.
As such, the US is clearly giving in to Chinese
pressure.

"Given the ambivalent US position, both sides of the
Taiwan Strait urgently want the US as their partner to
put pressure on their adversary.

"While both sides of the Strait hold fast to their
political strategies, they assume a moderate attitude
when dealing with minor issues, but use this to convey
to the US that their side is flexible in negotiations.
Against this backdrop, the belief that the US should be
a helper rather than an adversary in cross-strait
relations is beginning to take shape.

"The greatest danger for [President] Chen is to find
himself simultaneously fighting Taiwan's opposition
parties, China and the US at the same time. The
reasons the US is dissatisfied with Taiwan, apart from
other issues, is because of requests that the US
reassess its `one China' policy, improve its treatment
of visiting Taiwanese officials, opposition boycotts of
the arms deal and its suggestion that it would target
Shanghai in the event of a cross-strait war.

"In contrast, the instances in which the US has harshly
criticized China have decreased, while Taiwan's
domestic situation has become increasingly divided. In
the eyes of the US and China, it is Taiwan which seeks
to change the status quo.

"This may be because of successes in Chinese
propaganda, but this is how the situation is perceived.
It also goes to show that if Taiwan carries on with the
`two governments' in the US [i.e. the executive branch
and the Congress], it will find itself fighting
opponents both inside and outside the country."

PAAL