MEDIA REACTION: U.S.-CHINA SUMMIT, KMT-CCP ECONOMIC FORUM

UNCLAS AIT TAIPEI 001346

SIPDIS

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

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A


TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO TW
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: U.S.-CHINA SUMMIT, KMT-CCP ECONOMIC FORUM



1. Summary: Taiwan's major Chinese-language dailies continued to
focus their coverage April 18 on the controversial battle over the
ownership of the Sogo Department Store, in which First Lady Wu
Shu-chen was allegedly involved; the aftermath of last weekend's
KMT-Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Economic Forum; and the year-end
Taipei and Kaohsiung mayoral race.

With regard to the upcoming U.S.-China summit, the pro-status quo
"China Times" and the pro-unification "United Daily News" each spent
half of their "cross-Strait news" page (page 13) on wire service
coverage of Chinese President Hu Jintao's U.S. trip. The "China
Times" ran a banner headline on its page 13 that read: "Each Side
Has Something to Insist upon at the Bush-Hu Meeting: Beijing Is
Particular About [Protocol] Details While the United States Is
Focused on Trade and Economic Issues." A separate "China Times"
news article carried the headline: "Bill Gates Will Host a Dinner
Reception [for Hu], in Which [Former U.S. National Security Council
Senior Director for Asian Affairs] Kenneth Lieberthal Will Talk
about the Interim Agreement [for Both Sides Across the Taiwan
Strait]." The "United Daily News" ran a news story on its page 13
with the headline: "Hu Jintao to Depart for His U.S. Trip Today,
Which Will Be a Focus of Attention for Both Sides of the Taiwan
Strait." The sub-headline added: "'A Visit That Will Promote
China-U.S. Relations;' the Bush-Hu Meeting Will Take Place April 20,
in Which Security, Economic, and Taiwan Issues Will Be the Focus."
The pro-independence "Liberty Times," Taiwan's biggest daily, merely
carried a wire service news story on its page four with the
headline: "Hu Jintao Has Expressed to Bush That [Beijing] Has No
Strength to Challenge U.S. Hegemony."


2. In terms of editorials and commentaries, Professor Edward Chen of
Tamkang University's Graduate Institute of American Studies wrote in
the "United Daily News" that Hu is fully prepared to explain to Bush
that Beijing is sincere in improving the China-U.S. relations;
China's rise is not aimed at the United States; and that the current
impasse across the Taiwan Strait is not Beijing's fault. An
editorial in the limited-circulation, pro-independence,
English-language "Taiwan News" called on the DPP government to urge
Washington to beware of possible efforts by Hu to further erode
international backing for Taiwan's democracy. Editorials in the
"Liberty Times" and the limited-circulation, pro-independence,
English-language "Taipei Times" continued to criticize the KMT-CCP
economic forum as China's "united-front tactics" aiming at eroding
Chen's DPP government. End summary.


3. U.S.-China Summit

A) "For the Bush-Hu Meeting, [Chen Shui-]Bian's and [Annette] Lu's
Criticisms against Lien [Chan] Are Like Offering Hu [Jintao] a
Hand"

Professor Edward Chen of Tamkang University's Graduate Institute of
American Studies opined in the pro-unification "United Daily News"
[circulation: 400,000] (4/18):

"The meeting between [KMT Honorary Chairman] Lien Chan and [Chinese
President] Hu Jintao has just concluded, which will soon be followed
by the meeting between [U.S. President George W.] Bush and Hu. Hu
is fully prepared for his upcoming trip to the United States, and
his purpose is to make Bush understand that: first, Beijing is
sincere with regard to improving China-U.S. relations; second,
China's rise is not aimed at the United States; and third, it is not
Beijing's fault that both sides of the Taiwan Strait still remain in
tense standoff. ...

"American officials currently stationed in Taiwan believed earlier
that Washington had successfully used its high-profile treatment of
[KMT Chairman] Ma Ying-jeou to convey a message to Chen Shui-bian,
which 'cannot be explained in words' - namely, if the DPP fails
again to improve cross-Strait relations, Washington may likely
further tilt toward Ma. During his recent meeting with Ma, Chen
said he would respect the idea if Beijing publicly announces that
the '1992 Consensus' means 'one China with different
interpretations.' In response, the American officials also believe
that Chen's statement indicated that he is a quick learner. The
American officials' view [of Chen] may seem like a good beginning
[for both sides], but judging from Chen's criticism against the
Lien-Hu meeting, it seems evident that this may just be the United
States' wishful thinking."

B) "U.S. Must Beware of Hu's Trickery"

The pro-independence, English-language "Taiwan News" [circulation:
20,000] editorialized (4/18):

"The Democratic Progressive Party government must urge
policy-makers in Washington to beware of possible efforts by
People's Republic of China President and ruling Chinese Communist
Party General Secretary Hu Jintao to further erode international
backing for Taiwan's democracy during his upcoming meeting with
United States President George W. Bush in Washington D.C. on April

20. ... In light of President Chen's pledges to promote
constitutional re-engineering during the last two years of his term,
Hu may also urge Bush to openly declare that Washington 'opposes,'
rather than 'does not support,' any form of 'Taiwan independence' or
even to push Bush to sign a fourth communiqu containing this
principle. We do not believe the Bush administration will easily
fall into Beijing's trap, but we nevertheless strongly urge the DPP
government to carry out full preparations to cope with the worst
possible scenarios. ...

"President Chen must also clarify to U.S. channels that Washington's
concern over a possible 'dangerous, objectionable, and foolish
response' by Beijing to the consolidation of Taiwan's substantive
independence does not legitimize the PRC's opposition to moves by
the Taiwan people to improve or deepen their own democratic system,
especially as such upgrading is taking place through incremental and
democratic constitutional procedures. In sum, the DPP government
can best allow Taiwan's voices to be heard worldwide by
distinguishing our desire for democracy and peace based on the
exercise of the free will of our citizens from the PRC's
authoritarian rule and rising imperial ambitions."


4. KMT-CCP Economic Forum

A) "Only [When Taiwan] Develops Its Domestic Economy Can the Island
Safeguard Its Sovereignty"

The pro-independence "Liberty Times" [circulation: 600,000]
editorialized (4/18):

"... The KMT-CCP forum set up a stage for China's united-front
tactics by using economic baits to wrap up its ill-intentioned one
China principle. The [Taiwan] government's responsibility is to
safeguard Taiwan's sovereignty and it can never yield to the
pressure jointly posed by the KMT and the CCP. In addition, the
government must come up with countermeasures that can prevent the
KMT and CCP from gaining what they conspired to get. This newspaper
believes that the government must not dance to the devil's tune but
should do what is opposite of the KMT-CCP schemes; that is, the
government should renounce the myth that Taiwan's economy must rely
on China, and it should do its utmost to develop Taiwan's domestic
economy and let those who believe in Taiwan enjoy a better life.
..."

B) "The Man Who Sold Taiwan, Twice"

The pro-independence, English-language "Taipei Times" [circulation;
30,000] wrote in an editorial (4/18):

"So former Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) chairman Lien Chan has
wrapped up his second trip to China. Apart from helping this sad
and aloof figure secure some kind of political legacy, it is hard to
see what this latest trip has actually achieved. ... Besides that,
the communists tossed a few more crumbs onto the table in the guise
of help for Taiwanese fishermen, farmers and other groups, in a
blatant attempt to erode the DPP's support base. It's certain that
there will be no positive achievements from Lien's trip. After all,
what government would honor an agreement that their traitorous
opposition had signed with a country that has 800 missiles trained
on it? ...

"In his bid to satisfy his vanity, Lien and the KMT have merely
become tools of the Chinese Communist Party's 'united front'
campaign. Lien is like the Pied Piper of Hamelin, and the
pro-unification media his pipe, as he leads Taiwan's democracy into
the dark reaches of Beijing's cavern. The question is: Do the
Taiwanese people want to follow him?"

YOUNG