MEDIA REACTION: U.S., CHINA AND TAIWAN RELATIONS

UNCLAS AIT TAIPEI 004046

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., CHINA AND TAIWAN RELATIONS


Summary: Taiwan's major dailies December 4 focused on a secret
meeting between KMT Chairman Ma Ying-jeou and PFP Chairman James
Soong one week before mayoral elections in Taipei and Kaohsiung; the
return of President Chen Shui-bian's son, Chen Chih-chung, and
daughter-in-law, Huang Rui-ching, from the United States to Taiwan;
and the traffic accident of a tourist bus, killing 21 and injuring
24 aboard.

In terms of editorials and commentaries, two editorials commented on
scholarly opinions at a seminar at George Washington University on
December 1. The pro-independence "Liberty Times," Taiwan's largest
circulation daily, urged in its editorial that the government look
squarely into Professor Robert Sutter's warning that if Taiwan's
pan-Blue alliance continues building closer ties with China, this
will make the United States reevaluate its Taiwan policy and will
even negatively influence the deployment of U.S. military in this
region. The mass-circulation "Apple Daily" noted in its editorial
that one should not feel surprised about these opinions, and
President Chen should take responsibility for the deterioration in
Taiwan-U.S. relations. End summary.

A) "Look Squarely at a Warning from a U.S. Scholar on Taiwan's
Relaxation of its Self-Defense"

The pro-independence, Taiwan's largest circulation daily "Liberty
Times" [circulation: 600,000] editorialized (12/04):

"Professor Robert Sutter of the U.S.'s Georgetown University said at
a seminar that the image that Taiwan is unwilling to defend itself
is deeply rooted in people's minds in Washington, D.C., and it will
negatively influence Taiwan's lobbying in the United States.
[Professor Sutter added that] If the pan-Blue alliance continues
building closer relations with China, this will make the United
States reevaluate its Taiwan policy and even negatively influence
the deployment of the U.S. military in this region. In other words,
the negative influence of blocking the passage of the U.S. arms
procurement bill on Taiwan's security, on its strategic position,
and even on Taiwan-U.S. relations is gradually growing; this is a
warning that we cannot neglect.

"... Due to the ideology of the pan-Blue alliance, and after the
change of ruling parties in 2000, it [the pan-Blue alliance] has on
the one hand hindered the administration of the Chen government; on
the other hand, it has not concealed its pro-unification attitude
but has made several pilgrimages to China to express that attitude,
and it has clandestinely become a tool to carry out China's 'United
Front' strategies.

"The blocking of the U.S. arms procurement bill by the pan-Blue
alliance is solid evidence proving that the pan-Blue alliance has
become China's tool for 'United Front' strategies. ... The pan-Blue
alliance's method not only reduces Taiwan's national defense
strength but also severely jeopardizes Taiwan's image and has made
Taiwan a rascal who only intends to rely on the protection of others
without paying a price for self-defense. ..."

B) "U.S.-Taiwan Relations are Bad"

The mass-circulation "Apple Daily" [circulation: 500,000]
editorialized (December 4):

"At a seminar in Washington, D.C., several U.S. scholars said that
the Bush Administration is the friendliest administration toward
Taiwan, but [President] Chen Shui-bian's style of doing whatever he
pleases has sabotaged the relationship; no matter which political
party becomes the ruling party, the good opportunity is gone.

"This is a depressing but unsurprising conclusion. President Chen
has weighed foreign affairs, cross-Strait relations, and Taiwan-U.S.
relations on the scale of domestic politics and personal advantage
and disadvantage; the result is inevitable. ..."

YOUNG