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