MEDIA REACTION: U.S.-TAIWAN RELATIONS

UNCLAS AIT TAIPEI 001560 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.-TAIWAN RELATIONS ¶1. Summary: President Chen Shui-bian's transits en route to and from Paraguay and Costa Rica stayed in Taiwan's media spotlight May 6-8, while newspaper coverage alsofocused on the year-end Taipei and Kaohsiung mayoral races and other local issues. The pro-status quo "China Times" ran a banner headline on page two May 8 that read: "To Counter the United States and China, Bian Will Make Big [Political] Moves After He Returns to Taiwan." While several papers front-paged that Chen will transit Alaska on his way back to Taiwan this week, the pro-independence "Liberty Times," Taiwan's biggest daily, and the pro-independence "Taiwan Daily" both reported May 8 that Chen may have other options in mind for his transit. The "China Times" also ran a news story on page five May 8 headlined "Bian Seeks to Transit Miami on His Way Back." ¶2. In terms of editorials and commentaries, a "Liberty Times" editorial criticized Washington for disrespecting Taiwan's elected leader and suggested that both Taipei and Washington find an immediate and effective way to mend their mutual relations. A separate "Liberty Times" news analysis said the United States and China joining hands to deal a blow to Chen is akin to becoming the Taiwan people's enemy in public. A "Taiwan Daily" editorial condemned Washington for disregarding Taiwan and Taiwan's core democratic values. An editorial in the limited-circulation, pro-independence, English-language "Taiwan News" suggested that an increase in high-level official visits by Taiwan to other countries is the first step for the island to dissolve the widespread "China fever." An editorial in the pro-unification "United Daily News" said the major setback Chen suffered during his transits was a result of his decision to cease the functions of the National Unification Council. An editorial in the limited-circulation, conservative, pro-unification, English-language "China Post" called Chen's transit a "diplomatic disaster," and a separate "China Post" editorial urged Chen to mend fences with Washington by showing that he is not a "trouble maker." End summary. A) "Taiwan and the United States Can Look for Immediate and Effective Ways to Mend [Their Mutual Ties]" The pro-independence "Liberty Times" [circulation: 600,000] editorialized (5/8): �0A;"... We cannot help but recall the fact that the United States has repeatedly requested that China engage in dialogue with Taiwan's duly-elected government. But the United States, like China, also disrespects Taiwan's elected government. ... Washington has been chanting about democratic values all the time, but it regarded the leader of totalitarian China as an honorable guest while it ignored Taiwan's elected leader. Such a move not only failed to match the impressive manner of a great country but was also incompatible with democratic values. "U.S. officials have said more than once that President Chen's plan not to transit Alaska would not affect Taiwan-U.S. relations. This newspaper trusts that they are telling the truth, due to the common strategic interests shared by Taiwan and the United States. But Chen is after all the elected leader of Taiwan, and it will not be conducive to Taiwan-U.S. relations if [Washington] fails to show adequate respect to Chen. Washington might as well ponder which side will benefit from this [dispute]. Is it not China and the pro-China forces in Taiwan? Isn't it true that both Taiwan and the United States are losers? ... This paper thus hopes that both Taiwan and the United States could creatively take advantage of the timing of Chen's trip back to Taiwan and find an immediate and effective way to mend [their mutual ties] like, for example, improving the treatment of Chen's transit. ..." B) "To Deal a Blow to Taiwan's Elected President Is to Become the Taiwan People's Enemy" Journalist Tsou Jiing-wen noted in a news analysis in the pro-independence "Liberty Times" [circulation: 600,000] "Can the president of a democratic country be treated separately from his people? President George W. Bush has made a huge mistake! If Taiwan is a totalitarian country like China, the Taiwan government and Taiwan people are two different matters, and Bush can surely deal with them separately if he is upset with either of them. But the matter is that Chen Shui-bian is a president elected by the Taiwan people. If the United States and China join hands to deal a blow to Chen, it is akin to become the Taiwan people's enemy in public. ... "Uncle Sam was not pleased with the one country on each side of the Taiwan Strait doctrine, Taiwan's referendum, or [Chen's decision] to cease the functions of the National Unification Council. But the question is: Which of the above proposals is wrong? They all represent the aspirations of the Taiwan people since they have become the masters of their country. Chen would have not proposed them if he had not won adequate public support. ..." C) "U.S. Congressmen Protest of Washington [Refusal of Transit Approval] and Taiwan People's Plan to Welcome Chen at Airport Prove That President Chen Is Not Alone in Striving for Foreign Relations and Safeguarding National Dignity" The pro-independence "Taiwan Daily" [circulation: 100,000] editorialized (5/7): "... President Chen failed to transit the continental U.S. while visiting Central and South America, but Washington offered the treatment of a state leader to [Chinese President] Hu Jintao for his U.S. visit. ... Chen is an elected state leader who represents Taiwan during his overseas visit. This is how democracy works. Washington's disrespect for Chen is akin to showing inadequate respect for the Taiwan people and ignoring Taiwan's core values of democracy. ..." D) "Judging Chen's Transit in a Balanced Way" The pro-independence, English-language "Taiwan News" [circulation: 20,000] editorialized (5/8): "... While it is essential for leaders in both Taipei and Washington to improve communication and mutual trust and refrain from producing any unpredictable outcomes, it is also important for Taiwan to earn more respect and fair treatment from the U.S., regardless of China's influence. Taiwan's democratic achievement is the country's most valuable diplomatic asset as a contrast to China's authoritarianism. A democratically elected president of Taiwan deserves every opportunity to appear in the international arena. No country should deprive Taiwan's leader of the freedom to travel. ..." E) "Oh, God! Does [Chen] Plan to Stop over in Alaska on His Way Back?" The pro-unification "United Daily News" [circulation: 400,000] editorialized (5/6): "... This newspaper does not believe that 'transit diplomacy' is entirely meaningless because to a certain extent, it is an indicator of the [ups and downs of the] triangular relationship between Taipei, Washington and Beijing. ... The major setback that Chen Shui-bian suffered during his transit in the United States this time resulted from the cessation of the functions of the National Unification Council, which has substantively damaged the essence of Taipei-Washington ties, and is thus reflected in the apparently downgraded treatment of Chen's transits. But Chen was ignorant of such a situation and failed to fix the essence [of the bilateral ties]; instead, he made a 'childish' reaction, which will further destroy such essence. Isn't such behavior incredible? ..." F) "Chen's Diplomatic Disaster" The conservative, pro-unification, English-language "China Post" [circulation: 30,000] said in an editorial (5/8): "... We wish to join [Former Minister James] Huang in protesting to the United States, but not for the same reason. We fully understand that Uncle Sam wants to punish President Chen for crowing his finesse in reneging on the promise with impunity. But the tit for tat reaction was an overkill. It insulted the president and the people of Taiwan he represents, albeit almost half of them do not think so. There should have been a soft touch. For one thing, Washington could have refused to let him set foot on the United States. It's harsher but not insulting. ... We pray President Chen would refrain from making any more state visits in the next two years so that no more diplomatic disasters should hit a diplomatically isolated Taiwan. We don't think it's too much to ask." G) "Calling Washington's Bluff" The conservative, pro-unification, English-language "China Post" [circulation: 30,000] editorialized (5/6): "... There is still time for President Chen to mend fences with Washington by showing that he is not a 'trouble maker' who wants to ratchet up tensions with mainland China and thus embroiling the United States in regional hostilities. He can demonstrate that he has no intention of altering the status quo, as he has promised to the world. He must try hard to restore his credibility which is in tatters due to his repeated flip-flops that have ruined the mutual trust between Taipei and Washington." YOUNG