Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06AITTAIPEI4056
2006-12-05 09:07:00
UNCLASSIFIED
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Cable title:
MEDIA REACTION: CROSS-STRAIT TRADE
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHIN #4056 3390907 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 050907Z DEC 06 FM AIT TAIPEI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3348 INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 6048 RUEHHK/AMCONSUL HONG KONG 7270
UNCLAS AIT TAIPEI 004056
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: CROSS-STRAIT TRADE
Summary: Taiwan's major Chinese-language dailies focused their
coverage December 5 on a fatal bus crash near Tainan on Sunday; on
the upcoming Taipei and Kaohsiung mayoral races; and on the
aftermath of a supposed "secret" meeting between KMT Chairman Ma
Ying-jeou and PFP Chairman James Soong one week before the mayoral
elections. In terms of editorials and commentaries, most papers
editorialized on the bus accident and the mayoral elections. An
editorial in the pro-independence "Liberty Times," Taiwan's
largest-circulation daily, on the other hand, discussed cross-Strait
trade and urged the government not to act blindly by easing its
restrictions and opening trade across the Taiwan Strait. End
summary.
"Government Should Quickly Carry out the Mega Investment, Mega
Warmth Programs"
The pro-independence "Liberty Times" [circulation: 600,000]
editorialized (12/5):
"... Since the Beijing authorities enacted the 'Anti-Secession Law'
in March 2005, they have started strengthening their economic
'united front' strategy toward Taiwan in an attempt quickly to
absorb Taiwan's economy, the island's lifeline, and achieve their
objective of annexing the island through control of its economy.
For Taiwan, the best way to counterattack China is to 'fortify its
defense works' against Beijing's economic united-front tactics. By
contrast, easing the island's restrictions [on investment in China]
and opening [cross-Strait trade] are akin to helping China to
achieve its objective. Since the DPP regards itself as a nativist
regime, and since Premier Su intends to push the 'Mega Investment'
program [in Taiwan], neither the DPP nor Su should sit idly and
allow the island to open and ease its restrictions to China blindly,
or else a decline in Taiwan's industrial economy will be remembered
as a permanent blotch on the DPP's reign."
YOUNG
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: CROSS-STRAIT TRADE
Summary: Taiwan's major Chinese-language dailies focused their
coverage December 5 on a fatal bus crash near Tainan on Sunday; on
the upcoming Taipei and Kaohsiung mayoral races; and on the
aftermath of a supposed "secret" meeting between KMT Chairman Ma
Ying-jeou and PFP Chairman James Soong one week before the mayoral
elections. In terms of editorials and commentaries, most papers
editorialized on the bus accident and the mayoral elections. An
editorial in the pro-independence "Liberty Times," Taiwan's
largest-circulation daily, on the other hand, discussed cross-Strait
trade and urged the government not to act blindly by easing its
restrictions and opening trade across the Taiwan Strait. End
summary.
"Government Should Quickly Carry out the Mega Investment, Mega
Warmth Programs"
The pro-independence "Liberty Times" [circulation: 600,000]
editorialized (12/5):
"... Since the Beijing authorities enacted the 'Anti-Secession Law'
in March 2005, they have started strengthening their economic
'united front' strategy toward Taiwan in an attempt quickly to
absorb Taiwan's economy, the island's lifeline, and achieve their
objective of annexing the island through control of its economy.
For Taiwan, the best way to counterattack China is to 'fortify its
defense works' against Beijing's economic united-front tactics. By
contrast, easing the island's restrictions [on investment in China]
and opening [cross-Strait trade] are akin to helping China to
achieve its objective. Since the DPP regards itself as a nativist
regime, and since Premier Su intends to push the 'Mega Investment'
program [in Taiwan], neither the DPP nor Su should sit idly and
allow the island to open and ease its restrictions to China blindly,
or else a decline in Taiwan's industrial economy will be remembered
as a permanent blotch on the DPP's reign."
YOUNG