MEDIA REACTION: PRESIDENT CHEN SHUI-BIAN'S TRANSITS IN THE

UNCLAS AIT TAIPEI 001545 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: PRESIDENT CHEN SHUI-BIAN'S TRANSITS IN THE UNITED STATES ¶1. Summary: Taiwan's dailies continued significant coverage May 4 of transit plans for President Chen Shui-bian, who planned to depart on a trip to Paraguay and Costa Rica Thursday morning. Two prominent Taiwan papers, the pro-unification "United Daily News" and Taiwan's biggest daily, the pro-independence "Liberty Times" reported on their front and second pages, respectively, that Chen had decided not to transit the United States. The UDN headlined its article "Itinerary Changed: Bian Will Not Transit U.S. on His Way Overseas." The LT said "U.S. Says Bian Will Not Transit Alaska." Other papers front-paged the U.S. decision to allow Chen refueling stops in Anchorage on his way to and from Central and South America. The pro-status quo "China Times" ran a front-page banner headline that read: "Bian Lashes out in Dissatisfaction with U.S. Transit Arrangements When Meeting with AIT Director, While the United States Forcefully Makes Final Decision." The newspaper also carried a separate new story on page three with the headline: "State Department Suggests Transit in Miami, Bush Turns It Down." ¶2. Several papers continued to editorialize on Chen's U.S. transits and the current status of Taipei-Washington relations. A "Liberty Times" editorial urged Washington to support Taiwan and not succumb to China's threats. An editorial in the pro-independence "Taiwan Daily" also called on the United States to value Taiwan's friendship and handle issues related to Taiwan more prudently. An editorial in the mass-circulation "Apple Daily" said Washington knows for sure that Taiwan needs the United States, no matter what, and there is nothing Taiwan can do if Washington wants to humiliate Taiwan's president. An editorial in the pro-unification "United Daily News," however, attributed the U.S. government's ignoring Chen's transit request to its displeasure with his decision to end the functions of the National Unification Council and his deteriorating approval rating. National Taiwan University Professor Philip Yang opined in the "United Daily News" that Chen's inadequate credibility has resulted in Washington's decision to adopt preventive diplomacy. End summary. A) "How Can Politicians and Media Rejoice over the President's Setback with Regard to His Transits in the United States?" The pro-independence "Liberty Times" [circulation: 600,000] editorialized (5/4): "... President Chen's failure to enter the U.S. mainland during his transits this time must be viewed as a regression in Taiwan-U.S. relations. ... But we must remind the United States that in the wake of China's rise, which was cloaked in the colors of peace, Beijing's warmongering attitude, its increasing military buildup, and its totalitarian dictatorship have cast shadows over global peace and stability. When it comes to East Asian issues, Washington should support Taiwan, which is also a democracy like the United States, and consolidate its security alliance with Japan. This is the fundamental way to maintain regional peace. Excessively bowing to China's threats is akin to bringing in a troublemaker and will cause endless trouble [for the United States] in the future. ..." B) "Chiang Kai-shek Is the Originator That Makes Taiwan Unable to Walk off the Island and Promote [Its] Foreign Relations. Only under the Name 'Taiwan' Can [the Island] Pave a New Road in Diplomacy" The pro-independence "Taiwan Daily" [circulation: 100,000] editorialized (5/4): "... Even though we are not totally pleased [with U.S. transit plans for President Chen Shui-bian], we must understand that the United States has its own position. However, we must remind the United States of the fact that China mistakenly believes it can do whatever it wants with Taiwan as long as it exerts pressure. Taiwan's democratic achievements have won recognition around the world. The United States, which is a leader of the world's democracies, must value Taiwan's friendship more and handle Taiwan issues more carefully from now on. ..." C) "Bian Turned down for His Wooing" The mass-circulation "Apple Daily" [circulation: 500,000] editorialized (5/4): "... It certainly was not easy for [Chen] to annoy U.S. President George W. Bush so much as to turn him from being a big supporter of Taiwan to someone who feels bad about the island! It looks like Chen is more powerful than China in sabotaging Taiwan-U.S. relations. The [effects] of recent events such as the meeting between Bush and Chinese President Hu Jintao, the Iranian nuclear crisis, and Chen's decision to cease the functions of the National Unification Council, as well as Chen's remarks and behavior ever since he assumed office, have all rebounded on Chen and is reflected in his transits this time. ... Washington knows for sure that Taiwan needs the United States, no matter what. There is nothing that Taiwan can do if Washington wants to humiliate Taiwan's president. This is a fact, but Washington will be going too far if it humiliates Taiwan just to curry favor with China. ..." D) "'Journey of Uncertainty': What Is Chen Shui-bian's Diplomatic Strategy?" The pro-unification "United Daily News" [circulation: 400,000] wrote in an editorial (5/4): "... This newspaper also must remind the ruling DPP that the U.S. government's negligence [of Taiwan] this time not only manifested [U.S. President George W.] Bush's impatience toward the 'cessation of Taiwan's National Unification Council' but was also related to the evident deterioration of President Chen's administrative performance and personal image. The United States' high-profile treatment [of Chen during his U.S. transits] five years ago showed Washington's expectations and encouragement of the leader of a young democracy, and Washington's cold shoulder this time shows that it no longer wants to speak to a stupid, stubborn and unpopular state leader. This is a message of which both Chen and the DPP must stay alert. ..." E) "Inadequate Credibility Results in United States' Preventive Diplomacy" Professor Philip Yang of National Taiwan University's Department of Political Science opined in the pro-unification "United Daily News" [circulation: 400,000] (5/4): "To judge from Washington's perspective, its refusal of President Chen's transit of the continental U.S. is actually a [result of] crisis management and preventive diplomacy. In the wake of the cessation of Taiwan's National Unification Council (NUC),the gap between Taipei and Washington with regard to their interpretations and perceptions of the [NUC] event still remain. As a result of this gap, plus Chen's record of [inadequate] credibility as shown in his handling of Taipei-Washington ties, Washington was seriously concerned that Taipei would misinterpret the U.S. decision regarding Chen's transits and infer that the NUC event is over. Washington was even worried that Taipei would think that the United States has accepted the latter's clarifications about the NUC matter, a move that would lead people to think that the United States has accepted Taipei's unilateral definition of the status quo [across the Taiwan Strait]. Such a development, of course, does not meet U.S. policy and interests. "In addition, Washington is concerned that Chen's transits and his interpretation [of the U.S. decision] afterwards, plus the many diplomatic gaffes that happened during [Chinese President] Hu Jintao's visit to Washington, would send a wrong message to the Beijing government and cause Chinese misunderstanding and misjudgment. China, as a result, might think that Washington is playing the Taiwan card in terms of its cross-Strait policy, and that it tends to use Taipei to counterbalance Beijing. ... "Chen's move is of course aimed at testing the waters, seeking to use his transits to figure out Washington's policy changes. ... But the United States knows clearly the seriousness of the consequences if it allows Chen to transit the U.S. In the meantime, it is aware that it can use Chen's transits to make the Taiwan people understand the extent to which Taipei-Washington ties have deteriorated, and also find a vent for Beijing to release its displeasure with Hu's U.S. trip. ..." YOUNG