MEDIA REACTION: U.S. ARMS PROCUREMENTS

UNCLAS AIT TAIPEI 001043 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR INR/R/MR, EAP/TC, EAP/PA, EAP/PD - LLOYD NEIGHBORS DEPARTMENT PASS AIT/WASHINGTON E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO TW SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: U.S. ARMS PROCUREMENTS Summary: Taiwan's major Chinese-language dailies focused news coverage May 9 on the fist fighting in the Legislative Yuan Tuesday over the Organic Law of the Central Election Commission; on the 2008 presidential election; and on a scandal over a local TV network allegedly falsifying information in a documentary on the 2-28 Incident of 1947. The pro-status quo "China Times" front-paged a banner headline that said, "China Times' Latest Opinion Survey: Ma Wins Hsieh by Nine Percentage Points Only." In terms of editorials and commentaries, an editorial in the pro-independence, English-language "Taipei Times" discussed the Legislative Yuan's failure to pass the government's annual budget. The article said the pan-Blue camp's obstruction of a special budget for the U.S. arms procurements was "a setback for Taiwan's security and foreign relations." End summary. "Obstructionist Tactics Hurt Everyone" The pro-independence, English-language "Taipei Times" [circulation: 30,000] editorialized (5/9): "... However, the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) has forced the legislature to review its proposed - possibly unconstitutional - amendment to the Organic Law of the Central Election Commission before passing the budget, causing more than five months of deadlock. As a result, the opposition should bear the greatest responsibility. "The pan-blue camp, which has refused to pass a special budget for the US arms procurement package, now wants it put in the annual budget. Therefore, it, too, remains frozen in the legislature. Taiwan's efforts to update its military have been stalled, and friends like the US have begun to doubt whether Taiwan has the resolve to defend itself and whether it is sincere as an ally. This has been a setback for Taiwan's security and foreign relations. ..." YOUNG