MEDIA REACTION: U.S.-TAIWAN RELATIONS, CROSS-STRAIT

UNCLAS AIT TAIPEI 002674 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR INR/R/MR, EAP/TC, EAP/PA, EAP/PD - SCOTT WALKER DEPARTMENT PASS AIT/WASHINGTON SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO TW SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: U.S.-TAIWAN RELATIONS, CROSS-STRAIT RELATIONS ¶1. Summary: Taiwan's major Chinese-language dailies focused their coverage August 8 on the sudden announcement by the Minister of Transportation and Communications Monday afternoon of her resignation over the controversial highway electronic toll collection system; President Chen Shui-bian's alleged "secret" bank accounts; and a local prosecutor who was taken into custody for alleged sexual abuse of a female witness. The pro-unification "United Daily News" ran a banner headline on page four that read "Impact of Severing Ties [with Chad], Financial Supervisory Commission 'Closes Door' to Financial Holding Companies and Banks' Plans [to Open Branch Offices] in China." The mass-circulation "Apple Daily," on the other hand, carried an exclusive story on page six that said "Foreign Minister's Secret Visit with Terrorists' Head Is Exposed," and the sub-headline added "[James Huang] Called on Hezbollah Chief in April; Scholars: Should Be Cautious in Handling Foreign Relations." ¶2. In terms of editorials, an editorial in the pro-independence "Liberty Times," Taiwan's biggest daily, discussed the U.S. Congress' recent move to change the rules governing U.S. relations with Taiwan. The article urged Washington to modify the "Taiwan Relations Act" and make it demonstrate Taiwan's status as an independent sovereignty. With regard to Taiwan's decision to sever diplomatic ties with Chad, an editorial in the limited-circulation, pro-independence, English-language "Taipei Times" asked whether the U.S. State Department will view the Chad incident as an example of the cross-Strait "status quo" coming under attack. An editorial in the limited-circulation, pro-independence, English-language "Taiwan News" strongly urged the DPP government to shut the door to a possible visit to Taiwan by Chen Yunlin, director of China's Taiwan Affairs Office. End summary. ¶3. U.S.-Taiwan Relations "Taiwan-U.S. Interaction Guideline Should Reveal Taiwan's Status as Independent Sovereignty" The pro-independence, English-language "Liberty Times" [circulation: 600,000] editorialized (8/8): "... But the 'Taiwan Relations Act' was, after all, meant to define the non-official ties between Taiwan and the United States, so it has its limitations. The act might be viable back then, but over the past thirty years, Taiwan has transformed from a foreign regime into a nativist regime, and its people have elected their president three times. Taiwan has also become a democratic country along with the world's third wave of democratization. If Taiwan-U.S. relations continue to remain on the non-official level defined two or three decades ago, many obstacles and problems would show up one after the other. "For example, the United States regards the promotion of democratic values in the world as one of the pillars of its diplomatic strategy. Taiwan is clearly a democratic country of independent sovereignty now, but the United States still dodges developing comprehensive diplomatic relations with Taiwan. In contrast, a totalitarian country like China has won the U.S.'s attention. In the end, Taiwan's elected president is not allowed to visit the United States, but China's authoritarian ruler is free to enter the White House. This is completely against the founding spirit and democratic strategy of the United States. Over the past few years, the U.S. administrative branch often complained that the Taiwan government had failed to inform Washington in advance of its many major policies, giving Washington no time to react. In reality, however, the other side of the U.S. complaint is exactly a result of the limited level of Taiwan-U.S. contact and the lack of close communication between high-ranking officials of the two. ... "Honestly speaking, the U.S. administrative branch's fear of repercussions will only help to make China's appetite grow bigger and is not fair to democratic Taiwan. Such a move has violated the objective of 'maintaining and advancing the human rights of all Taiwan people,' and it is difficult to push China to move towards democracy in order to ensure peace, security, and stability in the West Pacific. ..." ¶4. Cross-Strait Relations A) "UN Is China's Weapon of Choice" The pro-independence, English-language "Taipei Times" [circulation: 30,000] editorialized (8/8): "... For Taiwan to retain any of its allies in the long term it is going to have to rely on diplomatic sophistication and not just dollar diplomacy. ... In the end, however, Taiwan is also up against forces outside of its control: Allies that require UN intervention are particularly vulnerable to Chinese blackmail. It will be interesting to see if the US State Department looks upon the Chad incident as an example of the beloved cross-Strait 'status quo' coming under attack and appropriately lodges a protest with Beijing. Or denounces the role of Chinese arms in the conflicts in Chad and Sudan as representing the most callous exploitation of a troubled region. Then again, pigs might fly." B) "Keep Door Closed to PRC Delegation" The pro-independence, English-language "Taiwan News" [circulation: 20,000] editorialized (8/8): "We urge the Democratic Progressive Party government to keep Taiwan's door firmly shut to the likes of People's Republic of China Taiwan Affairs Office Director Chen Yunlin, whom the former ruling Kuomintang has invited to attend an 'agricultural cooperation forum' in Taipei from October 13 to 18. ... Chen Yunlin's visit clearly has precious little to do with bilateral 'agricultural cooperation,' except as a ploy to persuade even more Taiwanese farmers or agricultural enterprises to sink their funds in the PRC tar pit, in which over 90 percent of agricultural goods identified as being of 'Taiwan origin are counterfeit. Instead, the proposed visit by the PRC's chief Taiwan affairs administrator aims to demonstrate in deed and word the 'hollowing out' or marginalization of Taiwan's democratically elected government. ... "In sum, we believe the Taiwan government should consider allowing Chen Yunlin to visit only if Beijing agrees to enter into direct consultations over the trip's content and protocol, including a commitment on reciprocal meetings with Taiwan government officials of equal rank, and agrees to issue an apology for the handling of the Chad issue. After Beijing shows respect for Taiwan's national dignity, then dialogue can commence." YOUNG