MEDIA REACTION: U.S. ARMS SALES TO TAIWAN

UNCLAS AIT TAIPEI 003682 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR INR/R/MR, EAP/TC, EAP/PA, EAP/PD - DAVID FIRESTEIN DEPARTMENT PASS AIT/WASHINGTON SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO TW SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: U.S. ARMS SALES TO TAIWAN ¶1. Summary: Taiwan's major Chinese-language dailies continued to give significant reporting and editorial coverage October 28-30 to AIT Taipei Director Stephen Young's press conference last Thursday; to the reactions by Taiwan's ruling and opposition parties to Young's remarks on arms procurements; and to the remarks by a senior U.S. official showing strong support for Young. News coverage also focused on the year-end Taipei and Kaohsiung mayoral races and other political issues. The pro-status quo "China Times" front-paged a banner headline October 30 that read "KMT's Bottom Line: Pick One of the Three Weaponry Items; Green Light for the Anti-submarine Aircraft Budget." The pro-independence "Liberty Times," Taiwan's largest-circulation daily, on the other hand, ran a banner headline on page two October 30 that said "Arms Procurement Bill to Run a Blockade Tomorrow; KMT and PFP Give Order to Block [It]." The "China Times" also carried the results of its latest survey October 28, which showed 66 percent of those polled believe Young's remarks were akin to diplomatic intimidation. The same poll also found Taiwan people's favorable impression of the United States has dropped from 68 percent in 2003, when the United States attacked Iraq, to a new low of 45 percent. ¶2. In terms of editorials and commentaries, a "Liberty Times" editorial said the United States adopted a tough position with regard to arms procurements because it disdains the fact that some political parties in Taiwan put their own interests ahead of the island's national interests. A column in the mass-circulation "Apple Daily" said when Washington talked about the "mess," it was aimed at warning the KMT. An editorial in the limited-circulation, pro-independence, English-language "Taipei Times" predicted that "the arms bill is likely to remain a hostage of the deadlocked legislature." A "China Times" editorial said Young's remarks were by no means conducive to breaking the stalemate on the arms procurement bill. An editorial in the pro-unification "United Daily News" strongly criticized Young's tone at the press conference, calling it a tone of "an arrogant, bossy, and overweening [colonial] governor." A "China Times" commentary said the United States' excessive arrogance has humiliated Taiwan, but Taiwan will not meet Washington's national interests. An editorial in the limited-circulation, conservative, pro-unification, English-language "China Post" said Washington "overreacted" and that "all that is needed is a little more patience on the part of Uncle Sam the referee to call an end to Taiwan's inter-party political football game." End summary. A) "How Can the Normal Functioning of the Legislative Body Continue to Deteriorate Like This?" The pro-independence "Liberty Times" [circulation: 600,000] editorialized (10/30): "... In reality, the United States adopts a tough stand with regard to the arms sales [to Taiwan] because it disdains the fact that under a democratic system, some political parties in Taiwan put their interests and position ahead of the national interests and totally disregard the survival of their people. The U.S. government evidently believes that the pan-Blue camp's approach has violated the normal practices in a democracy. In addition, in terms of Washington's global strategy, the United States first engaged itself in a war in Afghanistan in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks, followed by a war in Iraq. No matter how powerful the United States' national strength may be, it began to feel incapable of doing everything it wanted to do, and the anti-war sentiment is rising in the United States as well. Meantime, China's military expansion is underway in East Asia, together with North Korea's nuclear test and other rogue means such as test-firing ballistic missiles for the purpose of coercion. Should China attempt to start a war while Taiwan does not yet possess the deterrent force to defend itself, there may not be enough time for the United States to come to Taiwan's aid, even if Washington intends to assist the island. Also, the situation does not seem very optimistic as to whether the American people are willing to sacrifice their lives for a country which is unwilling to shoulder the responsibility of self-defense. ..." B) "Whose Mess?" Columnist Antonio Chiang commented in the mass-circulation "Apple Daily" [circulation: 500,000] (10/30): "... The international situation has undergone dramatic changes over the past six years. Even if Taiwan decides to buy all the weaponry items in the arms procurement package, the prime time of Taiwan-U.S. relations is gone for good. Both Taiwan and the United States will each have a new government in 2008, and this will add double variables and create a new impact to Taipei-Washington relations. There are many factors that affect Taiwan-U.S. relations, and arms procurements is just one of them; A-Bian's credibility and constitutional reforms are also factors. But what's most important are the changes in U.S. strategic interests, while the Taiwan issue is subordinate to this big international framework. Now the Americans have no faith in Taiwan's future direction, either. That is why they are using the arms deal and making a fuss about it. ... In reality, when the United States talked about the mess, it was aimed at telling the KMT that if Taiwan fails to buy those weapons now, and if the island, given the drumbeat for KMT-CCP cooperation, is leaning toward China in 2008, no one will be able to clean up the mess then." C) "Taiwan's Defense in US Hands" The pro-independence, English-language "Taipei Times" [circulation: 30,000] editorialized (10/29): "Comments by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice last week regarding the US' commitment to help Taiwan defend itself were nothing new. However, they came in the wake of regional tension over the nuclear test by North Korea and in response to questions over Taiwan's role in international efforts to deal with the crisis. ... On the other hand, it just so happens that Rice's comments were made at around the same time that the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission - a US government advisory panel - was getting ready to approve a report that highlights China's advanced military capabilities. ... "The supplemental [arms procurement] budget was the product of a compromise between the ruling and opposition camps to begin with, approving greatly reduced funds in comparison with the funding initially requested for the arms procurement program. In light of these events, the arms bill is likely to remain a hostage of the deadlocked legislature. The likelihood of the nation becoming less reliant on US protection is remote." D) "Stephen Young's Remarks Are by No Means Conducive for Resolving the [Stalled] Arms Procurement Bill" The pro-status quo "China Times" [circulation: 400,000] (10/28): "... Perhaps Stephen Young is aware, or maybe he's not, that the arms procurement, among all the contentious or issues in Taiwan, has long surpassed its pure nature of national defense security; it even has little to do with Taiwan-U.S. relations and is basically deeply entwined with the emotions and sentiments of the ruling and opposition parties in Taiwan. If Young does not believe [the theory], why not take a look at the reactions of the ruling and opposition parties over the past few days. Neither side really echoed the perspective emphasized by the United States or objectively discussed whether there is indeed a military imbalance in the Taiwan Strait. Instead, they just directly focused in on the leitmotiv of 'whether the United States supports Bian.' Is this the message that Young originally expected to convey? When this issue was quickly simplified to this level, will it move toward the direction that the United States expected it to? ... "It is understandable that, given the fact that the arms deal has been stalled for five years, the United States, no matter how much patience it has, has to complain. But no matter how urgent the issue becomes, [the United States] should communicate [with Taiwan] via informal lobbying channels. Sooner or later, this controversy will have to be resolved. ... Speaking openly in a tone that was close to threatening to challenge the Legislative Yuan has not only evidently trespassed the line of diplomatic protocol but will by no means be conducive in resolving the issue." E) "Stephen Young's Tone as a [Colonial] Governor Outrages the Public" The pro-unification "United Daily News" [circulation: 400,000] editorialized (10/28): "U.S. representative to Taiwan Stephen Young's making a big show to deliver an ultimatum via a press conference has pushed the arms procurement bill deeper into deadlock, because no country with rationality and dignity will follow Young's orders under such threatening and humiliating circumstances. ... Young's tone was by no means that of a qualified and civil 'ambassador'; it was in reality the tone of an arrogant, bossy, and overweening [colonial] governor. Do we really have to put up with that? "We support 'reasonable arms procurements'; even if Taiwan signs a 'peace treaty' with Beijing, it definitely must maintain a 'reasonable military buildup.' Taiwan people originally supported the arms procurements, but the stalled arms procurement bill has reflected very profound changes in public opinion and democratic thinking. Young must truly understand these profound issues in Taiwan's politics and should not operate in the opposite way and bully the weaker using his power in a tone of a [colonial] governor. ..." F) "Taiwan Did Not Eat Its Meal for Free" The "Short Commentary" column in the pro-status quo "China Times" [circulation: 400,000] (10/30): "... Everybody knows that Taiwan's security is reliant on the United States, but this dependence is not merely a burden for the United States, which has, in reality, gained huge benefits in return. This is the main reason why the U.S. cross-Strait policy remains stable. Should [Washington] give up or change its consistent policy, it must be because major changes have happened to the United States' strategic interests. [Should this happen], the United States will not soften its stance, even if Taiwan begs to seek [the U.S.] support. ... "All Taiwan people acknowledge the reality that Taiwan's security has to rely on the United States, but they have also paid a price for it over the past decades. Even though the bilateral relationship is not completely equal, neither side is allowed to dictate and take whatever it likes. Excessive imbalance and arrogance has humiliated Taiwan, but it certainly will not meet the U.S. national interests." G) "A New Political Football" The conservative, pro-unification, English-language "China Post" [circulation: 30,000] (10/30): "... The Bush administration overreacted. The people of Taiwan certainly will not emulate the South Koreans by going to the streets to protest against its warnings. But their pride is seriously hurt by the way the United States treated their country. They don't understand why Washington should issue what they believe is an ultimatum now. Given time, Ma Ying-jeou will deliver his promise. All that is needed is a little more patience on the part of Uncle Sam the referee to call an end to Taiwan's inter party political football game." YOUNG