MEDIA REACTION: U.S.-TAIWAN RELATIONS

UNCLAS AIT TAIPEI 001624

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 Taiwan dailies continued to center their reporting
May 11 on President Chen Shui-bian's surprise stopover in Libya,
coverage also focused on an ammunition depot blast in Taipei County
Wednesday and local political issues. All major Chinese-language
papers, with the exception of the mass-circulation "Apple Daily,"
front-paged Chen's surprise transit in Libya. The pro-independence
"Liberty Times," Taiwan's biggest daily, ran a front-page banner
headline that read "Bian Visits Libya and May Likely Fly to
Lebanon." The newspaper also ran a banner headline on page two that
said "With Bian's Visit, It Is Expected Taiwan Will Soon Set up an
Office in Libya." The pro-unification "United Daily News" carried a
news story on page three with the headline "Holding Hand with Laura
Bush Using His Right Hand, While Shaking Hands with Qaddafi Using
His Left; Bian [Uses] Two-Pronged Strategy to Create Diplomatic
Exclamation Mark." The newspaper also reported on page three poll
results which showed that 39 percent of respondents said they oppose
Chen's decision not to transit the United States to and from
Paraguay and Costa Rica, while 27 percent said they agree with it.



2. In terms of editorials and commentaries, a "Liberty Times"
editorial called Chen's transit in Libya a rare diplomatic
breakthrough, and an editorial in the pro-independence "Taiwan
Daily" said the transit treatment Chen received is an embodiment of
Taiwan's diplomatic predicament. An "Apple Daily" opinion piece
said Chen's detour diplomacy showed that the DPP government is
modifying its pro-U.S. line. An opinion piece in the
limited-circulation, pro-independence, English-language "Taipei
Times" said Taipei should communicate more with Washington, while
Washington should encourage Taiwan's efforts to establish good
governance and political institutionalization. A separate "Taipei
Times" commentary, on the other hand, said Chen has not only
demonstrated his ability to deal with unforeseen contingencies, but
also told both the U.S. and China that Taiwan will not be humiliated
and that it is an independent nation. The "Black and White" column
in the "United Daily News" asked whether Chen's transit of Libya is
a diplomatic breakthrough or political suicide. End summary.

A) "Good Job, President A-bian!"

The pro-independence "Liberty Times" [circulation: 600,000]
editorialized (5/11):

"... In fact, it is China which has blocked Taiwan's entire
maneuvering space in the international community and put President
Chen in an embarrassing situation. The pan-Blue camp did not dare
to criticize China, which suppresses Taiwan; instead, it regards
Taiwan's elected president as a foe. Such a weird mentality is
unbelievable and fails to win the recognition of a majority of the
Taiwan people. President A-bian transited Libya on his way home and
would discuss with the latter about bilateral trade and an exchange
of offices. This is a rare diplomatic breakthrough. Chen will
return to Taiwan today. He not only had to face China's suppression
and the United States' cold shoulder during this trip, but will have
to watch out for clandestine attacks from the pan-Blue camp. We
thus want to cheer the President: Good job, President A-bian!"

B) "Tens of Thousands of Taiwan People Will Welcome President Chen
at the Airport to Soothe the Mistreatment He Received and Support
His Diplomatic Endeavors"

The pro-independence "Taiwan Daily" [circulation: 100,000]
editorialized (5/11):

"... The 'transit treatment' that the Taiwan president receives is
actually an embodiment of Taiwan's predicament on the diplomatic
front. The United States does not have any problem with Chen.
Anyone who is in Chen's position today would receive the same
treatment, unless it's those 'Chinese people' who claim to be 'pure
Chinese' that kowtow to China like Lien Chan. Perhaps China will
not interfere with or exert pressure on the United States [regarding
his transits].

C) "Crashes between Taiwan and the United States Are Now
Unavoidable"

Academia Sinica Institute of Social Science Assistant Research
Fellow Hsu Yung-ming opined in the mass-circulation "Apple Daily"
[circulation: 500,000] (5/11):

"... Even though [Chen's] detour diplomacy has its flaws, which can
be criticized, Chen's trip has also revealed some structural
changes: First, the DPP is modifying its pro-U.S. line. No matter
if it's Lebanon, Libya or the United Arab Emirates, they are
neutral, medium-sized countries in their regions and are facing
isolation like Taiwan. They are of geographical and strategic
importance in their regions, but they are not close to the United
States. They are unlike Taiwan's allies in Central America or the
South Pacific, but are new targets for the island's strategic
alliance. Also, in the wake of the cessation of the National
Unification Council, the subject A-bian is wrestling with has become
the United States. Beijing is hiding behind the scenes, expecting
the day when Ma Ying-jeou becomes president. This will be a new
challenge for the pro-independence faction in Taiwan, and the United
States has become a big rock standing in the way of Taiwan
independence. ..."

D) "Diplomacy, Not Politics, Needed to Handle US"

Liu Kuan-teh, a Taipei-based political commentator, opined in the
pro-independence, English-language "Taipei Times" [circulation:
30,000] (5/11):

"... While it is essential for leaders in Taipei and Washington to
improve communication and mutual trust, and avoid adding
unpredictability to the relationship, it is also important for
Taiwan to earn more respect and fair treatment from the US,
regardless of China's influence. Nevertheless, the effort on
Taiwan's side has not been good enough. The Bush administration
also must avoid incorporating a double standard in its treatment of
Taiwan in the course of engaging with Beijing. Bush should
contemplate the degree to which his administration can keep a
balance between safeguarding US interests and those of a democratic
Taiwan, while at the same time engaging China and trying to mold it
into a responsible stakeholder. Looking ahead, Taipei should
communicate more with Washington, while Washington should encourage
Taiwan's efforts to establish good governance and political
institutionalization."

E) "The Country Must Stand Its Ground"

Chin Heng-wei, editor-in-chief of the "Contemporary Monthly"
magazine, opined in the pro-independence, English-language "Taipei
Times" [circulation: 30,000] (5/11):

"...Chen has not only demonstrated his ability to deal with
unforeseen contingencies, but also told both the U.S. and China that
Taiwan will not be humiliated and that it is an independent nation.
Washington's rejection of Chen's request to transit through the US
mainland has highlighted the predicament facing Taiwan on the
diplomatic front. If Chen rises to confront the US government, he
is sure to deal a blow to US-Taiwan relations, but since Taiwan has
gained the upper hand in this matter, we have to wait and see how
the US will respond. Will the US still need Taiwan as one of the
first island-nations in its chain of security off the East Asian
coastline? Does it still intend to contain China's 'non-peaceful
rise?' What will it see as the proper way of dealing with the
Taiwan question? These are important issues that the US government
and opposition will have to contemplate. ...

"Will Chen's indignation at the US spur the Taiwanese to seriously
contemplate their future? Will it trigger a period of self
examination in the US and cause the DPP to once again work to
fulfill its calling to fight for Taiwan? Maybe this really is
matter of a crisis offering new opportunities. This is exactly why
Chen is staking everything on one throw."

F) " Qaddafi's New Friend"

The "Black and White" column in the pro-unification "United Daily
News" [circulation: 400,000] noted (5/11):

"Chen Shui-bian, who said 'he will not be a lackey of the United
States' has made friends with Libyan madman Qaddafi. ... The choice
that Chen made was not only about the fact that he chose to transit
Libya, rather than the United States, but he also pushed himself to
the opposite side of universal values and international mainstream.
Is this a diplomatic breakthrough or political suicide? ..."

YOUNG