Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05TAIPEI5
2005-01-03 07:47:00
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 SECTION 01 OF 02 TAIPEI 000005
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) "No Warning in Armitage Comments"
Washington-based journalist James Wang said in the pro-
independence, English-language "Taipei Times"
(12/31/04):
". When the US cooked up its `one China' policy, it
imposed its opinion on the Taiwanese people. Taiwan
has become a more democratic country since the
localized Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) came to
power. Faced with the `one China' principle, which is
endangering the interests of the country, we can no
longer tolerate it. .
"Political friction between Taiwan and the US may occur
if the `one China' principle is challenged. To Taiwan,
the dispute with the US will incur some `warnings,'
which are not fatal. If we do not stand firm on
challenging the `one China' policy, Taiwan will become
another Hong Kong. The US should understand that while
it may not have to recognize Taiwan as a country, it
cannot force Taiwan to negate itself as a country.
"The KMT, gloating over the DPP's troubles, thinks Chen
has overstepped the red line drawn by the US. It is an
overstatement to say [Deputy Secretary of State
Richard] Armitage was warning Taiwan when he said the
US is not required to defend Taiwan under the TRA.
"First, while Chen has pushed for constitutional reform
and to uphold the sovereignty of Taiwan, he has not
totally ignored the interests of the US and the
security and stability of the region. Otherwise he
would not have put forward the `four noes' pledge
earlier this year. Second, it is impossible for China
to be unaware of the fact that the right to declare an
act of war resides with the US Congress and that there
is no requirement in the TRA that forces the US to
defend Taiwan. Third, no one can precisely say the US
will come to Taiwan's defense if China attacks.
However, the leadership of the Chinese government has
to presume that the US will be present if China tries
to take Taiwan by force. .
"Armitage's remarks were perfectly clear. The US'
strategy is to `deter,' using a demonstration of power
to warn China not to utilize military force as the
first step to `defend Taiwan.' To deter, however, does
not amount to declaring war. In 1996, China launched
missiles toward Taiwan as part of military maneuvers
and the US deployed two aircraft carriers to nearby
seas. .
"To study the meaning of the TRA, China should include
past examples of similar situations. Armitage brought
discussions up to the constitutional level when
touching on the right to declare a war. The fact is
that he would not and could not answer such a question.
He would rather choose an ordinary constitutional
procedure to explain how a war would be declared.
Considering a remark like this is to be a `warning' to
Taiwan is sheer overreaction."
B) "Chen's Pledges Must Go"
The pro-independence, English-language "Taipei Times"
editorialized (1/3/05):
". In this sense we cannot but be disappointed - once
again- with President Chen Shui-bian's New Year's
address. All we had was a rather empty warning to
China `not to underestimate the will of the Taiwanese
people.' Since China believes that the Taiwanese
people have no will and can be intimidated into voting
for the pan-blues by Beijing's saber-rattling, Chen
might as well not have bothered. Once again Chen spoke
about Taiwan's `olive branches.' What he might have
pointed out is that these olive branches have simply
been used as switches for giving Taiwan a good
whipping.
"When are Chen and those around him ever going to
realize that appeasement does not lead to security?
When are they going to learn the lessons of Munich,
which is that aggressive governments with plans for
territorial expansion have to be challenged? Enough of
Taiwan playing Mr. Nice Guy. It has got to the stage
where the country is being endangered by the lack of a
resolute strategy. Of course, getting tough is going
to annoy people in Beijing and Beijing's clients in the
State Department in Washington, but that can't be
helped. China's latest move is too serious to be taken
with the Panglossian stoicism that has characterized
the last four years. .
"Taiwan has been intimidated by such nonsense for long
enough. For too long, it has tried to make room for
the dubious concerns and often contemptible motives of
others. It must now look after its own interests. The
speech in which Chen made his pledges was called
`Taiwan Stands up.' Well it certainly didn't then. It
is about time it did."
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) "No Warning in Armitage Comments"
Washington-based journalist James Wang said in the pro-
independence, English-language "Taipei Times"
(12/31/04):
". When the US cooked up its `one China' policy, it
imposed its opinion on the Taiwanese people. Taiwan
has become a more democratic country since the
localized Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) came to
power. Faced with the `one China' principle, which is
endangering the interests of the country, we can no
longer tolerate it. .
"Political friction between Taiwan and the US may occur
if the `one China' principle is challenged. To Taiwan,
the dispute with the US will incur some `warnings,'
which are not fatal. If we do not stand firm on
challenging the `one China' policy, Taiwan will become
another Hong Kong. The US should understand that while
it may not have to recognize Taiwan as a country, it
cannot force Taiwan to negate itself as a country.
"The KMT, gloating over the DPP's troubles, thinks Chen
has overstepped the red line drawn by the US. It is an
overstatement to say [Deputy Secretary of State
Richard] Armitage was warning Taiwan when he said the
US is not required to defend Taiwan under the TRA.
"First, while Chen has pushed for constitutional reform
and to uphold the sovereignty of Taiwan, he has not
totally ignored the interests of the US and the
security and stability of the region. Otherwise he
would not have put forward the `four noes' pledge
earlier this year. Second, it is impossible for China
to be unaware of the fact that the right to declare an
act of war resides with the US Congress and that there
is no requirement in the TRA that forces the US to
defend Taiwan. Third, no one can precisely say the US
will come to Taiwan's defense if China attacks.
However, the leadership of the Chinese government has
to presume that the US will be present if China tries
to take Taiwan by force. .
"Armitage's remarks were perfectly clear. The US'
strategy is to `deter,' using a demonstration of power
to warn China not to utilize military force as the
first step to `defend Taiwan.' To deter, however, does
not amount to declaring war. In 1996, China launched
missiles toward Taiwan as part of military maneuvers
and the US deployed two aircraft carriers to nearby
seas. .
"To study the meaning of the TRA, China should include
past examples of similar situations. Armitage brought
discussions up to the constitutional level when
touching on the right to declare a war. The fact is
that he would not and could not answer such a question.
He would rather choose an ordinary constitutional
procedure to explain how a war would be declared.
Considering a remark like this is to be a `warning' to
Taiwan is sheer overreaction."
B) "Chen's Pledges Must Go"
The pro-independence, English-language "Taipei Times"
editorialized (1/3/05):
". In this sense we cannot but be disappointed - once
again- with President Chen Shui-bian's New Year's
address. All we had was a rather empty warning to
China `not to underestimate the will of the Taiwanese
people.' Since China believes that the Taiwanese
people have no will and can be intimidated into voting
for the pan-blues by Beijing's saber-rattling, Chen
might as well not have bothered. Once again Chen spoke
about Taiwan's `olive branches.' What he might have
pointed out is that these olive branches have simply
been used as switches for giving Taiwan a good
whipping.
"When are Chen and those around him ever going to
realize that appeasement does not lead to security?
When are they going to learn the lessons of Munich,
which is that aggressive governments with plans for
territorial expansion have to be challenged? Enough of
Taiwan playing Mr. Nice Guy. It has got to the stage
where the country is being endangered by the lack of a
resolute strategy. Of course, getting tough is going
to annoy people in Beijing and Beijing's clients in the
State Department in Washington, but that can't be
helped. China's latest move is too serious to be taken
with the Panglossian stoicism that has characterized
the last four years. .
"Taiwan has been intimidated by such nonsense for long
enough. For too long, it has tried to make room for
the dubious concerns and often contemptible motives of
others. It must now look after its own interests. The
speech in which Chen made his pledges was called
`Taiwan Stands up.' Well it certainly didn't then. It
is about time it did."
PAAL