MEDIA REACTION: U.S. ARMS SALES TO TAIWAN, TAIWAN'S NEW

UNCLAS AIT TAIPEI 003754 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, TAIWAN'S NEW CONSTITUTION ¶1. Summary: Taiwan's major Chinese-language dailies focused their coverage November 3 on the kidnap of a local baseball pitching coach; on the investigation of the presidential allowance for state affairs case; and on President Chen Shui-bian's interview with the "Financial Times" Wednesday, in which he again proposed that Taiwan could "freeze" its current constitution and pass a new constitution. The pro-unification "United Daily News" ran a banner headline on page six that read "Exclusive Interview with Britih Media; Bian Proposes Again to Freeze [Current] Constitution and Push New Constitution." ¶2. In terms of editorials and commentaries, an editorial in the pro-independence "Liberty Times," Taiwan's largest-circulation daily, continued to editorialize on U.S. arms sales to Taiwan. The article defended AIT Taipei Director Stephen Young's recent remarks on Taiwan's arms procurements and criticized those who oppose the arms deal for their "anti-U.S. and pro-China" mentality. An analysis in the pro-status quo "China Times," on the other hand, discussed President Chen's proposal to push a new constitution. The article said Chen's real purpose is to use the constitutional reform to lure the hardcore Green supporters and restrain the new DPP heavyweights. End summary. ¶3. U.S. Arms Sales to Taiwan "To Put It Bluntly, Opposition to Arms Procurements Is [to Adopt] Anti-U.S. and Pro-China Position" The pro-independence "Liberty Times" [circulation: 600,000] editorialized (11/3): "... Stephen Young reminded the Legislative Yuan to pass the arms procurement bill this fall and reminded Taiwan to quickly strengthen its self-defensive military capability. His remarks have conveyed the United States' grave concern for Taiwan's security. In our eyes, foreign friends such as Stephen Young are the real friends of Taiwan. The national identity in Taiwan is quite confusing right now; some people mistake friends for foes, while others mistake foes for friends, and this is the real threat coming from within Taiwan. "Those who oppose the arms procurements tend to oppose everything that has to do with the United States, and thus they harbor resentment against Young. To put it bluntly, [the resentment] was actually caused by their 'anti-U.S. and pro-China' mentality. If this is not the case, then why were these people so infuriated when the United States urged Taiwan to pass the defense military budget? Why is it that they have never felt that their country's dignity has been jeopardized and that their life and property are in danger when China has constantly threatened to use force against Taiwan, has enacted the 'Anti-Secession Law,' and has announced to the international community that Taiwan is part of China?" ¶4. Taiwan's New Constitution "Bian Is Anxious to Protect Himself by Pushing a New Constitution before the Elections" Journalist Lin Shu-ling noted in an analysis in the pro-status quo "China Times" [circulation: 400,000] (11/3): "... The Bian administration is clearly aware that the United States will not support the DPP in dealing with the sensitive issue of a new constitution. But the Presidential Office gave Washington two justifications [for its move]: The first is that the threshold for constitutional reform is very high, and a draft constitution proposal cannot possibly be passed without a true consensus. Second, the 'Second Republic Constitution' will continue to use 'Republic of China' as the national name, so it will not violate [Taiwan's] pledge to the United States. "Bian's justifications are akin to telling the United States that the constitutional reform is a 'bogus game' and that it hopes Washington will not exert too much pressure [on Taiwan]. Indeed, Bian's move of 'quasi-writing a new constitution' will by no means cross the super-high threshold of constitutional amendment. But Bian's move is evident and widely known to everyone. Whether or not there will be a new constitution remains to be seen, but using constitutional reform to pander to hardcore Green supporters and restrain the new DPP heavyweights is his real purpose. "For Bian, as long as he can secure the deep-Green stalwarts, he can continue to position himself on the high ground and attack others, regardless of whether the DPP can continue to take the helm. But the topic of 'quasi-writing a new constitution' should be poisonous for soliciting votes in the Taipei and Kaohsiung mayoral races. As a result, it is truly intriguing to see whether Bian's move quickly to put this topic on the table prior to the elections indicates that he has sensed the pressure from the investigation of the CONSTITUTION Presidential allowance for state affairs case, so he needs to rally the pro-independence supporters and launch another campaign to protect himself." WANG