Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05TAIPEI39
2005-01-06 08:26:00
UNCLASSIFIED
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Cable title:
MEDIA REACTION: U.S.-CHINA-TAIWAN RELATIONS
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS TAIPEI 000039
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.-CHINA-TAIWAN RELATIONS
A) "In the Face of the United States' Support, Taiwan
Should Push Harder for the Passage of the [Special]
Arms Procurement Deal"
The pro-independence "Taiwan Daily" editorialized
(1/6):
". The United States has failed to treat the
governments on both sides of the Taiwan Strait
impartially and justly. For example, when Taiwan
wanted to push for a name rectification plan and it
wanted to change the names of its [state-owned]
enterprises, the move was criticized as `a unilateral
attempt to change the status quo of the Taiwan Strait.'
On the other hand, however, Washington acted as if
nothing had happened when China said it wanted to
institute an `anti-secession law.' The State
Department officials' improper behaviors will give
China the wrong impression; Beijing would think that no
matter what it does, the United States would stand by
its side. Once encouraged [by the United States],
China will adopt more drastic actions . and might
likely start to play with fire eventually. When this
happens, not only Taiwan but also the Asia-Pacific
region and the United States will get hurt. .
"Taiwan's national defense power is a basis for
protecting the island's social and economic
developments; it is also a cornerstone to safeguard the
island's existence. When people and media of other
countries are voicing support for Taiwan, we should
have a better understanding of the current situation
and push harder for the passage of the special arms
procurement deal in an attempt to strengthen Taiwan's
security protection power."
B) "Taiwan Does Not Need to Replace Koo"
The pro-independence, English-language "Taiwan News"
said in an editorial (1/6):
". The fundamental deadlock between Taiwan and the PRC
centers on the facts that Taiwan is already a democracy
and an independent sate and that the PRC authorities
remain unwilling or unable to acknowledge, much less
adapt, to this reality. After nearly a decade of
deepening democratization symbolized by the majority
mandate given to President Chen Shui-bian and Vice
President Lu of the Democratic Progress Party last
March 20, returning to the era of the National
Unification Guidelines or to the heyday of the Koo-Wang
process is not an option.
"Future dialogue between Taipei and Beijing, if and
when it resumes, will not be based on `comfort'
feelings deriving from commonalities of the cultural
sensibilities of aristocrats and authoritarians or the
chimera of KMT-CCP cooperation on the temple of great
Chinese chauvinism.
"From Taiwan's position, the process of dialogue to
find a way for both sides to live together can only be
based on a democratic process and citizen
participation.
"Unless Beijing wants a conflict that its modernization
drive can ill afford, the new PRC leaders have little
choice but to tacitly begin on the basis of the reality
of Taiwan's actual independence and democracy and
forego attempts to solve the `Taiwan problem' by
appealing to particular Taiwan leaders or third powers,
even the United States, and exclude the Taiwan people.
."
PAAL
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.-CHINA-TAIWAN RELATIONS
A) "In the Face of the United States' Support, Taiwan
Should Push Harder for the Passage of the [Special]
Arms Procurement Deal"
The pro-independence "Taiwan Daily" editorialized
(1/6):
". The United States has failed to treat the
governments on both sides of the Taiwan Strait
impartially and justly. For example, when Taiwan
wanted to push for a name rectification plan and it
wanted to change the names of its [state-owned]
enterprises, the move was criticized as `a unilateral
attempt to change the status quo of the Taiwan Strait.'
On the other hand, however, Washington acted as if
nothing had happened when China said it wanted to
institute an `anti-secession law.' The State
Department officials' improper behaviors will give
China the wrong impression; Beijing would think that no
matter what it does, the United States would stand by
its side. Once encouraged [by the United States],
China will adopt more drastic actions . and might
likely start to play with fire eventually. When this
happens, not only Taiwan but also the Asia-Pacific
region and the United States will get hurt. .
"Taiwan's national defense power is a basis for
protecting the island's social and economic
developments; it is also a cornerstone to safeguard the
island's existence. When people and media of other
countries are voicing support for Taiwan, we should
have a better understanding of the current situation
and push harder for the passage of the special arms
procurement deal in an attempt to strengthen Taiwan's
security protection power."
B) "Taiwan Does Not Need to Replace Koo"
The pro-independence, English-language "Taiwan News"
said in an editorial (1/6):
". The fundamental deadlock between Taiwan and the PRC
centers on the facts that Taiwan is already a democracy
and an independent sate and that the PRC authorities
remain unwilling or unable to acknowledge, much less
adapt, to this reality. After nearly a decade of
deepening democratization symbolized by the majority
mandate given to President Chen Shui-bian and Vice
President Lu of the Democratic Progress Party last
March 20, returning to the era of the National
Unification Guidelines or to the heyday of the Koo-Wang
process is not an option.
"Future dialogue between Taipei and Beijing, if and
when it resumes, will not be based on `comfort'
feelings deriving from commonalities of the cultural
sensibilities of aristocrats and authoritarians or the
chimera of KMT-CCP cooperation on the temple of great
Chinese chauvinism.
"From Taiwan's position, the process of dialogue to
find a way for both sides to live together can only be
based on a democratic process and citizen
participation.
"Unless Beijing wants a conflict that its modernization
drive can ill afford, the new PRC leaders have little
choice but to tacitly begin on the basis of the reality
of Taiwan's actual independence and democracy and
forego attempts to solve the `Taiwan problem' by
appealing to particular Taiwan leaders or third powers,
even the United States, and exclude the Taiwan people.
."
PAAL