Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06AITTAIPEI808
2006-03-13 23:21:00
UNCLASSIFIED
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Cable title:  

MEDIA REACTION: U.S. AND CROSS-STRAIT RELATIONS, 2005 HUMAN

Tags:  OPRC KMDR KPAO TW 
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VZCZCXYZ0001
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHIN #0808/01 0722321
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 132321Z MAR 06
FM AIT TAIPEI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9051
INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 4847
RUEHHK/AMCONSUL HONG KONG 6044
UNCLAS AIT TAIPEI 000808 

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DEPARTMENT FOR INR/R/MR, EAP/TC, EAP/PA, EAP/PD - ERIC BARBORIAK
DEPARTMENT PASS AIT/WASHINGTON

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E.O. 12958: N/A


TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO TW
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: U.S. AND CROSS-STRAIT RELATIONS, 2005 HUMAN
RIGHTS REPORT


UNCLAS AIT TAIPEI 000808

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR INR/R/MR, EAP/TC, EAP/PA, EAP/PD - ERIC BARBORIAK
DEPARTMENT PASS AIT/WASHINGTON

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A


TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO TW
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: U.S. AND CROSS-STRAIT RELATIONS, 2005 HUMAN
RIGHTS REPORT



1. Summary: Taiwan's major Chinese-language dailies centered their
coverage March 11-13 on a major railway accident in Hualien; the
KMT's victory in the Chiayi City legislative by-election Saturday; a
KMT rally in Taipei Sunday to "Save Taiwan"; and the call for a new
investigation into the 319 shooting incident, by the family of the
man identified as the most likely would-be assassin. The
pro-independence "Liberty Times," Taiwan's biggest daily, and the
pro-independence "Taiwan Daily" both quoted Former U.S. Deputy
Secretary of State Richard Armitage March 11 as saying the United

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States is pleased with Taiwan's handling of the cessation of the
National Unification Council (NUC) and National Unification
Guidelines (NUG). The "Liberty Times," in the meantime, ran a
banner headline on its front page March 13 that read: "Armitage: the
International Community Is Concerned About Ma Ying-jeou's Anti-U.S.
and Anti-Japan Stance." Several papers also reported on U.S.
Pacific Commander Admiral William Fallon's remarks when testifying
before the U.S. House Armed Services Committee Friday that the
United States will remain committed to helping with Taiwan's
defense.


2. In terms of editorials and commentaries, journalist Sun
Yang-ming said in the pro-unification "United Daily News" that
Washington was actually very 'upset' with Taiwan's handling of the
NUC and NUG matter because it suggested that the United States did
not have as many bargaining chips as it had imagined when dealing
with Taipei. An editorial in the limited-circulation, conservative,
pro-unification, English-language "China Post" questioned
Washington's stance with regard to Chen's NUC announcement, calling
Washington's response "strange at best and beguiling at worst." An
editorial in the limited-circulation, pro-independence,
English-language "Taiwan News," on the other hand, called on
Washington to exercise its influence on Beijing to press China to
engage in dialogue with the Taiwan government. With regard to the
State Department's 2005 Human Rights report, an editorial in the
limited-circulation, pro-independence, English-language "Taipei
Times" called the report highly valuable as "it speaks

authoritatively about Taiwan while standing outside the partisan
muddying that can overwhelm local human rights discourse." End
summary.


3. U.S. and Cross-Strait Relations

A) "How Is the United States Going to Placate Beijing?"

Journalist Sun Yang-ming said in the pro-unification "United Daily
News" [circulation: 400,000] (3/12):

"The departure of former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Richard
Armitage from Taiwan can be viewed as a dividing line that marked
the ending of the first stage and the beginning of the second stage
with regard to the Bush administration's [handling] of Chen
Shui-bian's 'cessation of the National Unification Council and its
guidelines. ...'

"[Is there the] question as to why the United States dropped this
matter for the time being? Judging from the United States'
performance so far, Washington was actually very 'upset' because [it
suggested that] the United States did not have as many bargaining
chips as it had imagined [it had in dealing with Taipei]. Should
Washington make a slight move [against Chen], Chen would not care at
all; but the United States does not feel like dealing a heavy blow
to Chen either. Besides, once it deals a heavy blow [to Chen],
Beijing may likely misinterpret it as meaning that Washington has
given up on Taiwan, and believe that it could use this opportunity
to exploit [Taiwan]. ... The other part that Washington has to deal
with [now] is to placate Beijing and to discuss with it the next
step they should take with regard to the Taiwan issue. ...

"... Washington is almost sure that Chen's future constitutional
reform plan will have a bigger impact on the cross-Strait situation.
The best plan Washington has in mind is to place its hope on the
pan-Blue camp, hoping that it could block the DPP's draft version of
the new constitution in the Legislative Yuan. But no matter what,
the United States is very concerned about the uncertainties ... on
cross-Strait relations and on triangular interactions between
Washington, Beijing and Taipei."

B) "Status Quo: Unchanged or Not?"

The conservative, pro-unification, English-language "China Post"
[circulation: 30,000] editorialized (3/11):

"The controversy over whether President Chen Shui-bian has abolished
the National Unification Council and terminated the National
Unification Guidelines boils down to one question: Does the NUC
still exist? ... Why equivocating? Because to Washington,
scrapping or abolishing the NUC is a breach of commitment and a
unilateral alteration of the status quo, to which the United States

objects. ...

"But is Washington's objection for real or just for show? It was
surprising to see that right after President Chen made his bombshell
announcement on Feb. 27, Washington said Chen's announcement did not
alter Taiwan's status quo. But after mainland leader Hu Jintao gave
his stern warning, the U.S. State Department demanded Chen Shui-bian
to 'publicly acknowledge for the record that the Feb. 27
announcement did not abolish the NUC, did not change the status
quo.'

"Washington's response to Chen's bold move is strange at best and
beguiling at worst. The U.S. acted like a willing co-player of
Chen's word game, in which Washington pretends that it's business as
usual because Chen assures that the NUC is not 'abolished.' With so
many China hands and sinologists at its disposal, Washington should
know what 'cessation' means in Chinese in the context of this
momentous matter."

C) "More Dialogue Best for U.S.-Taiwan Ties"

The pro-independence, English-language "Taiwan News" [circulation:
20,000] editorialized (3/13):

"Given Armitage's status as a formerly influential high-ranking
official who used to be in charge of Asian affairs and cross-strait
affairs, a more constructive way to judge his visit should be
focused on what he did for Taiwan during his term as deputy
secretary of state and how he suggested calming down the current

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tactical tension in the U.S.-Taiwan relationship. ...

"Clearly, the intent [of Washington] is to urge President Chen to
avoid any complacency over the winding down of the NUC and related
guidelines and to assure the Bush administration that there will be
no more 'surprises' that could 'jeopardize' the mutual trust between
Taipei and Washington. Such a request is not unreasonable. But in
return, we hope that Washington can exercise its influence to press
Beijing to engage in dialogue with Taiwan's democratically-elected
government and respect the right of free choice of our 23 million
people."


4. 2005 Human Rights Report

"State Department Is Right on Rights"

The pro-independence, English-language "Taipei Times" [circulation:
30,000] said in an editorial (3/11):

"This year's US State Department country report on human rights in
Taiwan is, as always, very welcome. ... The report made no mention,
however, of the falling number of executions, nor the failure of the
Chen administration to eradicate the death penalty entirely. By
world standards, however, this is hardly a dramatic development.
...

"Overall, however, the government can find comfort in a positive
assessment of its efforts to maintain and improve the human rights
environment. The state Department's report is of considerable value
because it speaks authoritatively about Taiwan while standing
outside the partisan muddying that can overwhelm local human rights
discourse. Indeed, compared with the lack of enthusiasm that many
in the State Department feel toward Taiwan in general, the report is
like a bouquet: It embraces Taiwanese and foreigners here as human
beings worthy of respect and protection. And because politicians on
both sides are loath to openly denigrate the US for daring to pass
judgment on their country (a comparison with China on this point is
irresistible),the report obtains an unusual credibility. ... It is
hoped that the measured criticisms in this report can energize those
who aim to craft a more stable, just and dignified nation."

KEEGAN