MEDIA REACTION: TAIWAN'S WHO BID

UNCLAS AIT TAIPEI 001116 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: TAIWAN'S WHO BID Summary: Taiwan's major Chinese-language dailies focused news coverage May 17 on the mishaps during the 23rd Hankuang Military Exercise Wednesday, on the cabinet personnel reshuffle, and on other local issues. In terms of editorials and commentaries, an editorial in the centrist with pro-Blue proclivities "China Times" criticized the DPP government's foreign policy, saying it is aimed at using Taiwan's setbacks in the international community as a political ploy for domestic consumption. An editorial in the limited-circulation, pro-independence, English-language "Taipei Times," however, criticized China's attempts to thwart Taiwan's bid to join the World Health Organization (WHO). A separate "Taipei Times" op-ed also chimed in, urging the WHO member states to put politics aside and allow Taiwan to become a full participant. End summary. A) "Is It Appropriate for [Taiwan's] Foreign Policy to Be Aimed at 'Seeking Failure' Only?" The centrist with pro-Blue proclivities "China Times" [circulation: 400,000] editorialized (5/17): "... In short, the DPP authorities have been seeking radical independence in terms of their policies, making [Taiwan] isolated among its allies and seeking spectacular setbacks when it comes to [the island's] bid to join international organizations, in an attempt to create capital for [the party to win] domestic elections -- this is the meaning conveyed by the phrase 'seeking failure.' [Note: the Mandarin phrase "du gu qiu bai" refers to a fictitious character in a well-known martial arts novel who was cut off from the outside world and who aimed to seek failure.] "But the question is: Such a 'failure seeking' foreign policy has not only infuriated [Taiwan's] allies but has also done harm to Taiwan's economic development. For organizations such as the United Nations and the World Bank, Taiwan's participation in them may carry both symbolic and substantive significance. Even for the World Health Organization, its member states will hardly sense any different treatment until the moment when a pandemic strikes. But the regional trade organizations such as ASEAN, or the potential free trade agreements that Taiwan may likely sign with South Korea, Japan, the United States or European Union are the organizations or agreements that Taiwan should strive to sign or participate in because the substantive significance of Taiwan's bids far outweighs the symbolic significance. This paper has pointed out more than once in its editorials that when the ASEAN plus three takes shape in 2010 and when all ASEAN nations have each signed free trade agreements with the United States and EU nations, Taiwan, which is excluded from all these, will quickly lose the relative edge it has enjoyed in bilateral and multi-lateral trade, and a major crisis of economic marginalization will thus be formed. It is a widely known fact that the United States plays a very influential role in determining whether Taiwan is able to join or sign these regional trade agreements. If our policy that seeks failure continues to infuriate the United States, it will surely be inauspicious for Taiwan's economic planning. This is not a move to show our love for Taiwan, rather it will do harm to the island." B) "China's 'Concern' Makes Us Sick" The pro-independence, English-language "Taipei Times" [circulation: 30,000] editorialized (5/17): "... However, those who voted against Taiwan's bid for full membership in the WHO cannot simply wash their hands and walk away. They are equally guilty of turning a blind eye to the rights of 23 million people and for leaving a missing link in the global health framework by yielding to political pressure and excluding Taiwan. The organization as a whole and its individual member states seem unbothered by the contradiction between a body's mandate to prioritize global health issues -- above political agendas -- and blocking an entire nation from that body. ... How long will the WHO and its member states allow Taiwan to remain in this untenable position? One way or another, Taiwan is better off without China's magnanimity." C) "PRC Shares 'Expertise' with WHO" ¶J. Michael Cole, a Taipei-based writer, opined in the pro-independence, English-language "Taipei Times" [circulation: 30,000] (5/17): "... A global health organization worthy of its name and budgets, which after all come from its constituents, would have the wisdom to look beyond the narcissism of nationalist politics and act as per its mandate, which is to protect all, regardless of religion and nationality. It is high time the supposed wise men and women in the pristine white lab coats at the WHO in Geneva lifted the veil of the leaders in Beijing and gazed into the festering disregard for human rights that animates their policies. ... Whether it is in the spirit of global citizenship, or for selfish national security interests, the 193 member states at the WHO, NGOs and rights groups worldwide must put politics aside and pressure Beijing and the WHO -- including its Hong-Kong-born secretary-general, Margaret Chan, whose views on the issue are a reflection of Beijing's relentless efforts to isolate Taiwan -- into allowing Taiwan, next time around, to become a full participant." YOUNG