MEDIA REACTION: U.S.-TAIWAN RELATIONS

UNCLAS AIT TAIPEI 001580 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: As President Chen Shui-bian's visit in Paraguay and his transit plan continued to stay in Taiwan's media spotlight May 9, newspaper coverage also focused on the Legislative Yuan's vote on a cross-Strait direct transportation bill, scheduled for May 12; the Taiwan government's policy regarding investments in China; the year-end Taipei mayoral race; and a Taiwan-U.S. child custody case. The pro-status quo "China Times" ran a front-page banner headline that read "Bian Will Not Transit Alaska on His Way Home. High-Ranking [Official]: Do [We] Really Want to be a Lackey of the United States?" Both the pro-unification "United Daily News" and the pro-independence "Liberty Times," Taiwan's biggest daily, also carried similar news stories on their page two. The "Liberty Times," in addition, ran an exclusive news story on page two with the headline "Bian Proactively Greets Laura Bush at Costa Rican President's Inauguration Ceremony." ¶2. Several newspapers continued to editorialize on President Chen's transits and the current status of Washington-Taipei relations. The "Free Talk" column in the "Liberty Times" said Chen will not use the U.S. arms procurements to counter Washington's unfriendly behavior toward him. An editorial in the pro-independence "Taiwan Daily" said the more China tries to suppress Taiwan, the more evident the fact that Taiwan is not part of China becomes. A separate "Taiwan Daily" commentary criticized the State Department for having made the rudest, most stupid decision with regard to Chen's transits. A commentary in the limited-circulation, pro-independence, English-language "Taipei Times," on the other hand, praised Chen's maturing and resourceful diplomatic strategy in not transiting in the United States. An editorial in the limited-circulation, pro-independence, English-language "Taiwan News" pointed out that the U.S. move to downgrade its treatment of Chen has serious implications, as it implies that strategic interests always supersede moral concerns. The article also suggested that Washington send a delegation to repair or help harmonize Taipei-Washington relations. A "China Times" editorial, however, said Washington has drawn a line to separate Chen and Taiwan, and that the treatment Chen received is not equal to Taipei-Washington ties. An editorial in the limited-circulation, conservative, pro-unification, English-language "China Post" pointed out that "Chen's boldness was not born overnight and nor could it have been possible without U.S. connivance." End summary. A) "To Break Through the Pan-Blue Camp's Blockade" The "Free Talk" column in the pro-independence "Liberty Times" [circulation: 600,000] wrote (5/9): "... Arms procurements are essential [for Taiwan] to defend its security and they are not a bargaining chip in handling foreign relations. [We] believe that A-bian, as a state leader who is provided with sufficient national security intelligence, must be clearly aware of this. Also, Taiwan's strategic position shows that it is an indispensable stronghold for the United States and the [world] democratic camp to resist China's threats. As a result, even though A-bian and Bush may have had some emotional reactions, as long as they cool down, they will understand that neither Taiwan nor the United States can live without each other. Using arms procurements to counter the United States will surely put Taiwan in a deadly dangerous situation, and we are sure that A-bian will not make such a move. ..." B) "President Chen's Overseas Visit Has Garnered Public Support from the International Community and Highlighted [Taiwan's] National Dignity. Chen's Thinking and Strategy Deserve Approval" The pro-independence "Taiwan Daily" [circulation: 100,000] editorialized (5/9): "... These [friendly] reactions from the international community elucidated the significance of Chen's overseas trip. China's ceaseless attempts and going to extremes in suppressing Taiwan have resulted in the United States' decision to yield and act unfriendly [toward Taiwan] so as to gain Beijing's cooperation with regard to issues such as the Iranian and Pyongyang nuclear crises and Sudanese refugees. But such developments have all the more highlighted Taiwan's difficult situation in the international community and made the Taiwan issue a focus of international attention. It has also provided the international community with a correct understanding of the existence of a democratic Taiwan - namely, Taiwan and China do not belong to each other. This can be viewed as an unexpected result that Chen has harvested during his overseas trip this time. The more China tries to suppress Taiwan, the more evident the fact that Taiwan is not part of China becomes. Chen's endeavors and striving have thus revealed great significance. ..." C) "The State Department Has Made the Rudest Decision" Washington correspondent James Wang commented in the "Washington Review" column of the pro-independence "Taiwan Daily" [circulation: 100,000] (5/9): "The State Department has made the rudest, most stupid decision with regard to President Chen Shui-bian's transits, and the consequences profited neither side. U.S. congressmen should investigate and punish the State Department for such a childish decision. ... Of course, when it comes to foreign relations, ... a 'win-win' situation is the best result. Since the United States understands Taiwan's situation and praises Taiwan's democracy, it should not have accommodated itself to an undemocratic country and worked with the latter to suppress democratic Taiwan. ..." D) "Chen Chose the Right Route to Paraguay" Chen Gau-tzu, deputy director of the Northern Taiwan Society, opined in the pro-independence, English-language "Taipei Times" [circulation: 30,000] (5/9): "... We are positively surprised by Chen's maturing diplomatic strategies and want to ask the pan-blue camp to offer a public apology for their fictitious claims of Chen's confused odyssey. More significantly, Chen decided that he would no longer endure humiliations and orders from the US. The greatest pride of Americans - their belief in freedom and democracy - is a complex issue, and their pride at times is somewhat misplaced. In particular, situations where the US' economic interests conflict with its belief in justice are a problem for the US. ... We were glad to see Chen's brave and resourceful display. The performance was also a signal to anyone with ambitions to lead the nation in future: They must manifest the will to lead Taiwan down its own path to win public respect and support." E) "Taiwan's U.S. Policy Must Be Rethought" The pro-independence, English-language "Taiwan News" [circulation: 20,000] editorialized (5/9): "... Many observers believe that Bush's decision to prevent President Chen from transiting through New York or San Francisco - Chen's preferred destinations - was directly targeted as a rebuke against the president rather than against Taiwan or the country's people. For Bush to try to draw a line separating Taiwan's people from Chen's administration seems on the surface unthinkable and ludicrous, but in fact is also anti-democratic since the directly elected Chen represents the country's citizens. "The U.S. move to downgrade the treatment afforded the president also has even more serious implications as it implies that strategic interests always supersede moral concerns. With POLITICAL and economic interests far more important than 'doing the right thing,' American has sent a clear message to its allies that values can be compromised when dealing with or soliciting support from totalitarian China. That thinking will encourage other countries to buckle to China's will without any moral burden and ultimately undermine the foundation on which international order is based. Moreover, Washington will no longer be seen as a moral arbiter by its allies. In Taiwan, many local elites who have an American education background feel that the U.S.' active participation in the Taiwan Strait is mainly conceived to pursue its own interests, with concern for democratic values and human rights only of secondary importance. What kind of message is the U.S. sending when it so arrogantly deals with the president of a Taiwan that is a model of democracy and free market economics that Washington has long advocated? ... "To atone for its objectionable behavior, the U.S. government should send a delegation to repair or help harmonize RELATIONS between the two countries. Substantive issues, such as a Free Trade Agreement, for example, can be raised and opportunities should be created to exchange good will. As much as anything, the two sides need to have a candid dialogue, with issues related to the 'one-China' policy even discussed in confidential channels. Each side has to tell the other its real bottom line. One the other hand, tactically speaking, Taiwan must revise its conventional foreign policy approach, which is one-sided in favor of the United States. Rather than putting all of its eggs in one basket, Taiwan can use South Korea's shift to more a neutral foreign policy that balances relations with the U.S. and China as a reference. ..." F) "Safeguarding National Dignity Does Not Mean Taking Risks Without Considering Consequences" The pro-status quo "China Times" [circulation: 400,000] editorialized (5/9): "... First, the United States' handling of transits by Taiwan leaders is a thermometer of [Washington's] good will and not an indicator of [Taiwan's] national dignity. Taiwan's dignity lies in the amount of recognition and mutual respect it can receive in the international community; in the amount of sovereignty the island can enjoy in interacting with the international community; and in the international community's perception of Taiwan's status and values. As for the President's transits in the United States, Washington has set a principle of 'safety, comfort, and convenience,' which has basically revealed the good will it extends to the traveling leader of a friendly ally. Since such a principle is not an indicator for evaluating Taiwan's national dignity, it can surely be adjusted accordingly, based on its POLITICAL considerations and different circumstances. ... "Second, the treatment Chen receives during his transits is not equal to Taipei-Washington relations. Since Washington has now decided to draw a line separating Chen and Taiwan, its decision to reduce the room for Chen's rally plan during the transits by no means indicated that it has lessened its good will toward Taiwan. In fact, Washington is clearly aware that many of Chen's moves were made under his personal or his party's POLITICAL considerations, and that it is neither fair for the Taiwan people nor in the U.S.'s interests to ask all the Taiwan people to shoulder the consequences [of Chen's moves.] ..." G) "Chen's Problems U.S.-made" The conservative, pro-unification, English-language "China Post" [circulation: 30,000] said in an editorial (5/9): "... And this time, accumulated U.S. displeasure with the president over his habit of double-talking on policies exploded to make Chen's eight-day trip uncomfortable and send Taipei's ties with Washington to a possible freeze for at least the last two years of his time in office. ... This highly publicized emotional tit-for-tat between President Chen and the U.S. officialdom was unfortunate. ... With Chen's habit of pushing the envelop on independence, blindsiding U.S. officials and U.S. interests in keeping the Taiwan status quo, U.S. impatience is understandable. However, Chen's boldness was not born overnight nor could it have been possible without U.S. connivance. ... "But President Chen has persistently advertised his opposition to the one-China principle, stressing that Taiwan is an independent country and that the U.S. position of 'no support' actually means 'no opposition' to Taiwan's statehood. Besides, the ruling DPP's charter clearly states that the party's ultimate goal is to establish a republic of Taiwan, which Chen has pledged to accomplish through a referendum on a new Taiwan Constitution before his term ends in 2008. To such provocative plans, the U.S. has chosen to ignore, providing ample space for Chen and independence activists to fool Taiwan's people that the U.S. will fight China for Taiwan's independence in the name of defending democracy. U.S. ambiguity enhances Chen's hand." YOUNG