MEDIA REACTION: CROSS-STRAIT RELATIONS

UNCLAS TAIPEI 004387 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR INR/R/MR, EAP/TC, EAP/PA, EAP/PD - ERIC BARBORIAK DEPARTMENT PASS AIT/WASHINGTON E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO TW SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: CROSS-STRAIT RELATIONS ¶1. SUMMARY: Taiwan dailies October 28 focused on the latest development of a local scandal: local prosecutors reportedly will summon today former Presidential Office Deputy Secretary-General Chen Che-nan to further investigate his role in the Kaohsiung MRT scandal. ¶2. Editorials and Commentaries: Pro-independence "Liberty Times" urged in its editorial that the government should not allow Chinese tourists to visit Taiwan, due to unimaginable consequences. Another pro-independence newspaper, "Taiwan Daily," editorialized that the Taiwan government should penalize Taiwan politicians who sell-out Taiwan. END SUMMARY ¶1. "China People Who Came to Taiwan Frequently Illegally Overstayed in Taiwan. Consequences of Allowing China Tourists to Visit China are Unimaginable" Pro-independence, Taiwan's largest newspaper, "Liberty Times" [circulation: 600,000] editorialized (10/28): ". China is paying a high price to buy-off Senegal, a country that used to have diplomatic ties with Taiwan. China at the same time is sending National Tourism Administration Director [Shao Qiwei] to Taiwan to construct a phony image (i.e. China is allowing its people to visit Taiwan.) China is actually playing a trick that `carries out the United Front policy in the name of sightseeing.' Taiwan's countrymen therefore should not relax their vigilance. ". Once Taiwan opens its market for China's tourists, Taiwan might suffer from the damage caused by their illegal overstays and infiltration before Taiwan receives actual benefit. ." ¶2. "The Pan-Blue Alliance Echoed with China to Divide [Taiwan's] Domestic Politics, and Isolate [Taiwan's] Foreign Relations. The [Taiwan] Government Should Begin the National Security Investigations and Penalize Such Treason" Pro-independence "Taiwan Daily" [circulation: 150,000] editorialized (10/28): ". China adopted means, through the cooperation with Taiwan opposition politicians, to divide [Taiwan's] domestic politics, and isolate [Taiwan's] foreign relations. Not only Taiwan's status as a sovereign state would be jeopardized, but Taiwan's democracy would be destroyed as well. Moreover, China's attempts might intensify political confrontations and disturbances on the island. The United States, as a bystander, sees the situation clearly. This is why former U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Randy Schriver said `Beijing wants to contact only the pan-Blue alliance on the economic, trade, and other cross-Strait issues. The development that Beijing rules out the possibility of contacting the elected DPP government might negatively impact cross-Strait relations. Schriver also said the United States supports Taiwan people to decide their own future. Schriver added that it would be Taiwan's loss if Taiwan people make concessions under Beijing's pressure. .' ". At this moment, the government should be more cautious than before, and should begin national security investigations in order to obtain information whether or not Taiwan politicians have sold-out Taiwan. ." KEEGAN