MEDIA REACTION: CROSS-STRAIT RELATIONS AND U.S.

UNCLAS AIT TAIPEI 000848 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: CROSS-STRAIT RELATIONS AND U.S. ¶1. Summary: Taiwan's major Chinese-language dailies continued to center their reporting March 15 on the call for a new investigation into the 319 shooting incident, a third U.S. BSE case, and other local issues; coverage also focused on President Chen Shui-bian's interviews with the international press ("The Washington Post" and Germany-based "Frankfurt Allgemeine Zeitung"). The pro-independence "Taiwan Daily" ran a banner headline on its front page that read: "As Long As the Conditions Are Ripe, Taiwan Must Have a New Constitution." The sub-headline added: "The President Gives Interviews to European and American Media, Reiterating That the Push for a New Constitution Is Aimed at Consolidating Democracy and That Any Handling of Sovereignty-Related Issues Will Have to Meet [Taiwan's] Constitutional Procedures." The pro-independence "Liberty Times," Taiwan's biggest daily, ran a news story on its page two with the headline: "Bian Confirms That the Wording for 'Cessation of the National Unification Council (NUC) and National Unification Guidelines (NUG)' Was Originally 'Abolition.'" The pro-status quo "China Times," ran a similar news story on its page two with a different headline: "Bian Clarifies the Crucial Wording for the First Time; Cessation of the NUC and NUG 'Is not Abolition and Does Not Violate [Chen's] Pledges.'" ¶2. In terms of editorials and commentaries, an editorial in the pro-unification "United Daily News" seeks a definition of "Taiwan independence" by asking how would Taiwan benefit if the name of the island were to be changed from "Republic of China." Journalist Lin Shu-ling said in a news analysis in the "China Times" that Chen's interviews with members of the international press were aimed at clarifying his position with the United States in order to prevent Washington and Beijing from signing a fourth communiqu. A "Taiwan Daily" editorial asserted that Chen's call for a new constitution for Taiwan is in line with universal values. End summary. A) "What is Taiwan Independence All About?" The pro-unification "United Daily News" [circulation: 400,000] editorialized (3/15): "... [As President Chen has asked publicly in the wake of NUC/NUG decision] Has A-bian done anything wrong? He has to answer the following questions first: First, the view of Taiwan independence [activists] is that the termination of the Republic of China (ROC) must be carried out, [but] is it true that Taiwan must change its name and move toward 'de jure Taiwan independence' so that it can become an independent sovereign state? That is, does 'Taiwan' have to put an end to the ROC in order to declare 'independence'? Second, the Taiwan independence [activists'] belief is that Taiwan independence can best resist the People's Republic of China, [but] will Taiwan's moving toward 'de jure independence' provide an ultimate safeguard for cross-Strait peace or will it be an ultimate showdown leading to war across the Taiwan Strait? "What is Taiwan independence? Why do we need Taiwan independence? Does Taiwan independence simply mean just wanting to change Taiwan's official title to the 'Republic of Taiwan' (de jure Taiwan independence)? Doesn't Taiwan independence also seek the mutual prosperity of the 23 million [Taiwan] people? Or is it simply wanting to 'rectify Taiwan's name and write a new constitution' at the risk of tearing apart [Taiwan] society? When answering these questions, Taiwan independence [activists] must ask themselves first: What is there for Taiwan if the ROC no longer exists? ... What is Taiwan independence? Is it just changing Taiwan's official title? Why do we need Taiwan independence? Is it just testing whether Beijing will really attack Taiwan or just trying to see if the United States will really come and 'help to defend' [Taiwan]? ... "If the Taiwan independence [activists] consider moves to 'rectify Taiwan's name and write a new constitution' and 'de jure Taiwan independence' as goals they must achieve, they are probably narrowing the [definition] of Taiwan independence and leading the Taiwan independence movement downhill; that is, these activists are boxing Taiwan independence into a corner themselves. If the Taiwan independence [movement] finally terminates the ROC via 'de jure independence,' Taiwan independence itself can hardly be sustained. If Taiwan independence fails to be sustained, Taiwan will hardly survive. ... When Chen Shui-bian said he wants to continue sticking to his dream of Taiwan independence, it means he will continue using the nightmare of Taiwan independence to torture Taiwan, depriving the island of the right to live a sober life. " B) "Bian Steps on the Brake in Order to Avoid the United States and China from Signing a Fourth Communique" Journalist Lin Shu-ling said in a news analysis in the pro-status quo "China Times" [circulation: 400,000] (3/15): "President Chen launched a publicity campaign to [try to influence] the international media immediately after the controversy over his 'cessation of the National Unification Council (NUC) and the National Unification Guidelines (NUG) subsided for the time being. Chen's publicity campaign was not merely aimed at seeking the international community's support for Taiwan in the face of China's potential attack against the island, but also focused on clarifying with the United States that his administration will not continue moving toward 'the road of Taiwan independence.' Also, Chen is trying his best to prevent Washington and Beijing from signing a fourth communiqu during the upcoming meeting between U.S. President George W. Bush and Chinese President Hu Jintao. ... "When it comes to Washington's changing attitude [toward Chen's NUC and NUG decision] ..., sources said Taiwan had explained to Washington very clearly during their communications the island's legal procedures for writing a new constitution and the possible developments. Washington accepted [Taiwan's explanation] that 'Bian can hardly take the next step,' so the alarm was muted. ... Bian's publicity campaign is targeting mainstream American media this time, and his move is actually aimed at clarifying [his attitude] with the United States to avoid any possible development in the upcoming Bush-Hu meeting that might put Taiwan in an unfavorable position. ..." C) "President Chen's Call for a New Constitution Is in Line with Universal Values: [Chinese Premier] Wen Jiabao's Appeal to Ethnic Bonds Is Nothing But His Wishful Thinking!" The pro-independence "Taiwan Daily" [circulation: 100,000] editorialized (3/15): "... The cessation of the National Unification Council and its guidelines has released the Taiwan people from the sole and only option of unification [with China]. Writing a new constitution will tailor for Taiwan a timely, suitable, and useable new constitution so that Taiwan can stride ahead toward a broad future. All these moves have to be done according to democratic procedures step by step, and during the process, the rights of the 23 million Taiwan people must also be taken care of ... This development is not aimed at provoking China and it is something a modern democracy must do. Only by doing so can Taiwan move forward bravely and win the support of the international community. ..." KEEGAN