MEDIA REACTION: BUSH'S ASIA TRIP

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TAIPEI 004655

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: BUSH'S ASIA TRIP


1. Summary: The front-page headline story for almost all
major Chinese-language Taiwan dailies November 22 was the
indictment of 18 Taiwan officials, businessmen and 4 Thai
laborers in the Kaohsiung Rapid Transit Corp scandal, among
who, most notably, is former Presidential Office Deputy
Secretary-General Chen Che-nan. Newspaper coverage also

SIPDIS
focused on other scandals, campaigns for the upcoming 3-in-1
elections, Taiwan's tuna quota cut for 2006, and the
aftermath of U.S. President George W. Bush's summit with
Chinese President Hu Jintao. Most newspapers carried in
their inside pages Taiwan Mainland Affairs Council Chairman
Joseph Wu's comment in the Legislative Yuan Monday that
Taiwan can breathe a sigh of relief now that the U.S. policy
on cross-Strait relations has not changed after the Bush-Hu
summit. The centrist "China Times" ran a news article that
quoted an unnamed high-ranking Taiwan official as saying the
United States will stage a joint military exercise in
Mongolia in June 2006 to rival China's "Shanghai Cooperation
Organization," adding that Taiwan is seeking to participate
in the exercise, too.


2. In terms of editorials and commentaries, Tamkang
University's Graduate Institute for American Studies
Professor Chen Yi-hsin said in the mass-circulation "Apple
Daily" that Bush's trip to Asia has led many Asian countries
to sense that China has not only risen in stature but is
also taking advantage of this current opportunity whereas
Washington has to focus its foreign policy in the Middle
East to significantly expand its sphere of influence in that
region. An editorial in the limited-circulation,
conservative, pro-unification, English-language "China Post"
discussed the Bush-Hu summit, saying that Washington and
Beijing appear in sync on how to handle Taiwan, and the
island should think hard about its place in the new world
order. End summary.

A) "How Will the United States Restore Its Prestige in Asia"

Chen Yi-hsin, professor at Tamkang University's Graduate
Institute for American Studies, commented in the mass-
circulation "Apple Daily" [circulation: 500,000] (11/22):

"President George W. Bush's trip to Asia may have led many
Asian countries to sense that China has not only risen [in
stature] but is also taking advantage of this current
opportunity whereas Washington has to focus its foreign
policy in the Middle East to significantly expand its sphere
of influence [in that region]. If Washington does not
change its policy now, Asia might gradually drift away from
the United States. The United States has attached too much
importance on the Middle East, whereas the outcome [of its
diplomatic efforts] may not be seen immediately. In the
meantime, however, there is a temporary vacuum in Asia's
power structure. China joined Russia in demanding at the
annual conference of the Six Nations Cooperation
Organization that the United States withdraw from the
military bases in Central Asia. China will also play a
leading role in the East Asia Summit, which will take place
in December, from which the superpower United States will be
excluded. .

"For mainland China, Bush's praise of Taiwan's democracy in
Kyoto seemed on the surface as a move to persuade China to
emulate Taiwan's democracy and freedom. But in reality, .
it seems evident that the United States has gradually come
to realize that Beijing, following the enactment of its Anti-
Secession Law, is about to replace Washington [in its level
of influence] with regard to cross-Strait issues. Bush's
playing the card of Taiwan's democracy this time was thus an
attempt to seize back its leadership regarding cross-Strait
issues. ."

B) "U.S., China in Sync on ROC"

The conservative, pro-unification, English-language "China
Post" [circulation: 30,000] said in an editorial (11/22):

"For the first time in decades, Taiwan was not a problem
issue in U.S.-China summit talks, but an appendix. This is
good-bad news for Taiwan. Good, it signals the cross-strait
status quo will be upheld without disruptions. Bad, Taiwan
is increasingly losing control of its future to the two
powers. .

"In Washington, there's a realization that while the U.S.
can wage wars unilaterally, it can't achieve peace that way.
This is especially true after 9-11. China, though still a
communist dictatorship and a potential challenger, is no
longer called a strategic competitor but an indispensable
partner and a `stakeholder' in managing world issues. U.S.
influence on China in economics, political development and
human rights is limited. China has to be accepted for what
it is. .

"Bush's Asia tour is widely seen as part of a campaign to
rejuvenate U.S. leadership for a new world order. In
addition to engaging China, Washington is also expected to
forge a partnership with Russia, accept India's nuclear
status, welcome a more assertive Japan, and encourage a more
capable and active Europe. All are firm believers in the
one-China principle. Taiwan will be further sidelined. The
U.S. and China appear in sync on how to handle Taiwan, the
island should think hard about its place in this new world
order."

PAAL