MEDIA REACTION: CROSS-STRAIT RELATIONS

UNCLAS TAIPEI 004433 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: Major Chinese-language Taipei dailies on November 2 continued to provide extensive coverage on the row between the Government Information Office (GIO) and a local cable station, TVBS, over whether or not the station complies with local laws governing foreign ownership of media outlets. They also focused on the probe into the Kaohsiung Mass Rapid Transit system scandal and KMT Chairman Ma Ying-jeou's father, who passed away Tuesday at the age of ¶86. President Chen Shui-bian's remarks on Tuesday that he will not close down any TV station during his term of office was the front-page headline story of all Taiwan newspapers except for Taiwan's biggest daily, the pro-independence "Liberty Times," which reported the news story on page three. Several newspapers also carried in their inside pages a statement by a senior State Department official Tuesday with regard to the GIO's investigation into TVBS's shareholder structure that "the United States places great importance on freedom of the press and hopes press freedom will continue to be guaranteed in Taiwan." ¶2. Several newspapers continued on November 2 to editorialize on the GIO-TVBS row about the station's ownership structure. An editorial in the "Liberty Times" discussed Taiwan's national security, saying that the control of Chinese capital over Taiwan's media is undermining the island's "political security." End summary. "National Security Is No Child's Play" The pro-independence "Liberty Times" [circulation: 600,000] editorial (11/2): ".The ratio of China-made products in Taiwan's overall exports has soared to more than 41 percent this year, which has had an impact on Taiwan's political climate and created problems with regard to Taiwan's `national defense security' and `political security.' The Procedure Committee of Taiwan's Legislative Yuan (LY),totally disregarding Washington's concerns, has blocked the [U.S.] arms procurement package proposed by the Cabinet for the 35th time. The LY's move is akin to trampling Taiwan's national defense and military security under the LY's feet. Is national security issue child's play? Should it be blocked simply because one political party dislikes it? Why do the Executive Yuan and the President seem to be at their wit's end about how to deal with such traitorous behavior [by the LY]? Can they not resort to public opinion [to resolve the issue]? . "The control of Chinese capital over Taiwan's media is undermining the island's `political security.' The invasion of China's `unrestricted warfare' has practically handed Taiwan's right to dictate the island's financial and economic direction and to interpret its culture in the hands of those pro-China media outlets; Taiwan's identity has nearly crumbled to dust. This China-centered way of thinking is also infiltrating[the minds of] some key DPP members, who began to question [the DPP's] movements pushing for the rectification of Taiwan's name, Taiwan's localization, and love for Taiwan. Such developments have quickly shattered the DPP's founding ideals and ambitions to transform Taiwan into a country. This explains why the DPP is fighting a tough battle in order to win this year's 3-in- 1 elections. Taiwan's `political security' is truly in danger. ..." KEEGAN