MEDIA REACTION: U.S.-JAPAN-TAIWAN STRATEGIC

UNCLAS TAIPEI 004413

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 ESTH
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: U.S.-JAPAN-TAIWAN STRATEGIC
COOPERATION, AND BIRD FLU


1. SUMMARY: Taiwan dailies on November 1 focused on
President Chen Shui-bian's comments during a National
Security Council meeting on October 31 that urged the
international community to monitor the transparency of bird
flu control in China. Taiwan dailies also focused on the
battle between the Government Information Office and a local
cable station, TVBS, over whether or not the station
complies with local laws governing foreign ownership of
media outlets.


2. Editorials and Commentaries: On U.S.-Japan-Taiwan
Strategic Cooperation, Taiwan Think Tank's Foreign Policy
Studies Director Lai I-chung wrote in the pro-independence
"Taiwan Daily" that the "Taiwan issue" has become more
critical than ever in U.S.-Japan-Taiwan relations, and he
urged closer cooperation between the three sides. Regarding
the bird flu issue, in the limited circulation, pro-
independence, English language "Taipei Times", Associate
Professor Chen Kow-tong of National Cheng Kung University's
Department of Public Health suggested appropriate ways to
control a possible bird flu outbreak. END SUMMARY


1. U.S.-Japan-Taiwan Strategic Cooperation

"Critical Agenda for U.S.-Japan-Taiwan Strategic Cooperation
- Part II"

Lai I-chung, Taiwan Think Tank's Director for Foreign Policy
Studies, commented in the pro-independence "Taiwan Daily"
[circulation: 100,000] (11/01):

". The `U.S.-Japan-Taiwan Strategic Dialogue' concluded that
the most critical variable influencing current U.S-Japan-
Taiwan relations is Taiwan. Taiwan's economy will be
marginalized, and the delay in Taiwan's military
modernization has a negative influence on the security
balance across the Taiwan Strait. Moreover, the current
situation of Taiwan politics makes it impossible to predict
Taiwan's future democratic development. The situation is
therefore quite serious. Hence, there is greater need and
urgency for U.S.-Japan-Taiwan cooperation. This is what
constitutes the `Taiwan issue.' The critical agenda for
U.S.-Japan-Taiwan cooperation in the next two years will not
only be the `cross-Strait issue,' but also the `Taiwan
issue.' It is therefore necessary to hold further
discussions in order to formulate one or more policies that
could be handled by all sides."


2. Bird Flu

"Avian Flu Needs to be Stopped in its Tracks"

Chen Kow-tong, National Cheng Kung University's Department
of Public Health Associate Professor wrote in the pro-
independence, English language Taipei Times [circulation:
30,000] (11/01):
". An effective surveillance system is needed to discover
the origins of an outbreak and any new cases of bird flu.
The first reaction is to take people's temperature on a
daily basis. As of yet, there have been no proven cases of
human-to-human bird flu transmission and only around 120
confirmed cases of bird flu being transmitted to humans
globally. Therefore, finding cases of actual bird flu given
the amount of people who have a fever is like finding a
needle in a haystack. Disease prevention personnel may well
overlook an actual case given the sheer amount of data to
review. To ensure an effective surveillance system, there
should be a stricter definition of which symptoms
characterize the onset of bird flu. Once a case of bird flu
is confirmed in Taiwan, the government should amend its
definition to be more inclusive. Only by doing so can the
government get the situation under control and prevent panic
from setting in.
"A disease prevention program should be specific, flexible
and able to change depending on how the disease behaves. The
recent cases of bird flu have all been reported among people
who have had frequent contact with fowl. Therefore, the
government should strengthen its efforts in this regard.
"A local outbreak will increase demands on human and
material resources. Therefore, the government has to come to
grips with the pandemic at an early stage and prevent the
disease from spreading within the nation.
"We should also make good use of the anti-flu drug Tamiflu,
since it is capable not only of curing the disease but also
of preventing the spread of the bird flu virus. However, we
should not regard it as a wonder drug and distribute it to
everyone in Taiwan. ."
PAAL