MEDIA REACTION: CROSS-STRAIT RELATIONS

UNCLAS AIT TAIPEI 001251

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DEPARTMENT FOR INR/R/MR, EAP/TC, EAP/PA, EAP/PD - ERIC BARBORIAK
DEPARTMENT PASS AIT/WASHINGTON

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E.O. 12958: N/A


TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO TW
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: CROSS-STRAIT RELATIONS



1. Summary: Taiwan's major Chinese-language dailies focused their
coverage April 8-10 on the upcoming economic forum between the KMT
and the Chinese Communist Party, in which former KMT Chairman Lien
Chan will meet with Chinese President Hu Jintao again; the
corruption scandal surrounding former Presidential Office Deputy
Secretary-General Chen Che-nan, who was taken into custody last

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Friday; and the year-end Taipei and Kaohsiung mayoral race. The
pro-independence "Taiwan Daily" ran a banner headline on its front
page April 10 that read: "[Vice President] Annette Lu Is Concerned
That Lien-Hu Meeting Will Be a Crisis for Taiwan."


2. In terms of editorials, an editorial in the pro-independence
"Liberty Times," Taiwan's biggest daily, said the best way for
Taiwan to counter China's false belief in the use of force against
the island is for the Taiwan government to express its strong
political position to warn Beijing not to take any rash advances
militarily. An editorial in the pro-status quo "China Times" called
on Beijing to view the notion of "one China, with each side having
its own interpretation" with a positive attitude. An editorial in
the limited-circulation, pro-independence, English-language "Taiwan
News" criticized the upcoming Lien-Hu meeting, saying it is aimed at
isolating and marginalizing President Chen Shui-bian's DPP
government. End summery.

A) 'The Effective Way for Taiwan to Counterstrike China's False
Belief in the Use of Force"

The pro-independence "Liberty Times" [circulation: 600,000] wrote in
an editorial (4/10):

"... Taiwan has already shouldered too many responsibilities in
maintaining the status quo across the Taiwan Strait, and it will be
deadly constrained by China if it does not take any action now.
This newspaper suggests that the Taiwan government, in addition to
strengthening its national defense capabilities, proactively
managing the island's investments in China, and preventing China
from using the United-Front tactics to divide Taiwan, clearly
express its strong political position. [Taiwan should let China
know that] as long as Beijing decides to take any rash advances
militarily, Taiwan pledges that it will effectively defend itself
and make China pay a huge political price. This is the best way for
Taiwan to counterstrike China's false belief in the use of force
[against the island]."

B) "Beijing Should View the Discourse on 'One China, with Each Side
Having Its Own Interpretation' with a Positive Attitude"

The pro-status quo "China Times" [circulation: 400,000]
editorialized (4/10):

"... [KMT Chairman] Ma Ying-jeou's strategy of discourse is very
clear; that is, he recovered President Chen's 'Five No's' pledge and
made it equal to 'maintaining the status quo.' Then he nailed the
DPP down using Chen's statement made during his recent meeting with
Ma that he would 'show absolute respect' [if Beijing agrees to the
notion of] 'one China, with each side having its own
interpretation.' Ma also nailed Beijing down by quoting the
latter's acceptance of 'one China, with each side having its own
interpretation,' which could be found in the five-point consensus
reached by [former KMT Chairman] Lien Chan and [Chinese President]
Hu Jintao during their meeting last spring. It is obvious that
neither Beijing nor the DPP is willing to state clearly that they
accept the notion of 'one China, with each side having its own
interpretation.' It is, however, also difficult for either of them
to say 'sternly' that it opposes to the notion, because if any of
them does so, it would be like labeling itself as the side that
creates trouble, and that would give Ma the space to cut in. As a
result, every party involved is watching closely how Beijing isQgoing to do with the ball [now that it is in its court]."

C) "Lien-Hu Meet Aims to Divide Taiwan"

The pro-independence, English-language "Taiwan News" [circulation:
20,000] commented in an editorial (4/10):

"The opposition Chinese Nationalist Party and the People's Republic
of China's ruling Chinese Communist Party will hold an economic and
trade forum later this week, just prior to the scheduled visit by
PRC State Chairman Hu Jintao to the United States to hold a summit
with U.S. President George W. Bush. ... The convention of the
KMT-CCP forum in Shanghai and its timing is likewise politically
calculated as a means to implement Beijing's 'divide-and-conquer'
strategy, which aims to isolate and marginalize President Chen
Shui-bian's DPP government. Thanks to the enthusiastic
participation by the KMT, the forum also provides Hu with ample
ammunition in his upcoming summit with United States President
George W. Bush on April 20 to blame the continuation of the
cross-strait stalemate on the 'unilateral refusal' of President Chen
and the DPP government to engage in cross-strait talks. ...

"Although conducted in the name of peace, Lien's establishment of an
alliance between the KMT and CCP against Taiwan's democratically
elected-government runs the risk of permanently sabotaging Taiwan's
national interests, national security, sovereignty and dignity. ...
It is also essential that members of the international community be
able to decipher the underlying content of Beijing's strategy of
'divide-and-conquer' and demand that the PRC engage in direct, equal
and dignified negotiations with Taiwan's democratically elected
government, which is the only mandated representative of our 23
million people."

YOUNG