MEDIA REACTION: PENTAGON'S REPORT ON CHINESE MILITARY

UNCLAS AIT TAIPEI 001199

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: PENTAGON'S REPORT ON CHINESE MILITARY
POWER, U.S.-TAIWAN RELATIONS, INTER-KOREAN RELATIONS


1. Summary: Taiwan's major Chinese-language dailies focused May 31
news coverage on the year-end legislative elections and the 2008
presidential elections; on a visiting U.S. West Point cadet who was
allegedly involved in non-consensual sex; on the plunge of China's
stock prices Wednesday following an attempt by its authorities to
rein in the nation's booming stock markets with a higher trading
tax; on former President Lee Teng-hui's plan to visit the Yasukuni
shrine in Japan; and on an alleged corruption scandal regarding the
Argo satellite project of the National Space Organization.


2. In terms of editorials and commentaries, an editorial in the
limited-circulation, pro-independence, English-language "Taipei
Times" discussed the Pentagon's recent report on Chinese military
power and pointed out the "underlying danger that Taiwanese are
beginning to take for granted, or perhaps accept, news of China's
suppression." A separate "Taipei Times" op-ed suggested that the
United States agree to Taiwan's request for a free trade agreement,
saying "it would be a good move for both the US and Taiwan, and may
help revive the TRA, which hasn't been adhered to." An editorial in
the limited-circulation, pro-independence, English-language "Taiwan
News" discussed the recent railway link between South and North
Korea and said such a development is "definitely a signal of major
positive significance for relations between North and South Korea."
End summary.


3. Pentagon's Report on Chinese Military Power

"Chinese Aggression Is a Big Deal"

The pro-independence, English-language "Taipei Times" [circulation:
30,000] editorialized (5/31):

"... A recent Pentagon report, Military Power of the People's
Republic of China 2007, said that China has more than 900 short
range ballistic missiles deployed along its coast aimed at Taiwan,
and that number is increasing by more than 100 a year. ... Because
of Taiwan's polarized political environment, warnings by government
officials concerning China's military build-up appear to fall on
deaf ears. ... The government's rhetoric is indeed the same old
tune, but the implied attitude points to an underlying danger that
Taiwanese are beginning to take for granted, or perhaps accept, news
of China's suppression -- such as its ability to keep Taiwan out of
international organizations. ... Taiwan can blame its allies all it
wants for letting it down with the WHA vote and condemn the
international community for its lack of justice and for kowtowing to
China. But when it comes down to it, what is Taiwan doing to get
the help it needs to face down China? Can Taiwan draw world
attention when so many Taiwanese themselves seem not to view China's
missiles and aggression as a big deal?"


4. U.S.-Taiwan Relations

"The Help of a Free-Trade Agreement"

Nat Bellocchi, former chairman of the American Institute in Taiwan
and now a special adviser to the Liberty Times Group, opined in the
pro-independence, English-language "Taipei Times" [circulation:
30,000] (5/31):

"For the next 10 months, the US and China will be following
Taiwanese politics closely. ... At the same time, Taiwan and China
will be watching how the US pursues its geopolitical interests in
relation to both of them. ... With its many interests worldwide,
the US relationship with Taiwan may remain relatively unchanged,
despite the developments in Taiwan and China. The US continues to
pressure Taiwan to strengthen its military security, but at the same
time, ironically, it encourages Taiwan to invest more in the Chinese
economy. ...

"One of the problems in the US-Taiwan relationship has been a lack
of dialogue. Doing this inevitably upsets China, especially if
senior officials are open involved. As Taiwan has had problems
keeping diplomatic information secret, the US-Taiwan relationship is
a sensitive one that needs a different kind of dialogue. China's
efforts to coerce countries and international organizations to block
Taiwanese participation in the international community have
intensified, undermining Taiwanese relations. The damage this
coercion is doing to Taiwan is rarely talked about. It is clear
that US commitment to averting coercion as suggested by the TRA has
wavered. There is something the US could do to help Taiwan,
however, which China might find difficult to suppress: It is for
the US to agree to Taiwan's request for a free-trade agreement. It
would be a good move for both the US and Taiwan, and may help revive
the TRA, which hasn't been adhered to."


5. Inter-Korean Relations

"Lessons for Taiwan from Korea Links"
POWER, U.S.-TAIWAN RELATIONS, INTER-KOREAN RELATIONS


The pro-independence, English-language "Taiwan News" [circulation:
20,000] editorialized (5/31):

"... The successful 26-kilometer trips across the forbidding border
dividing South and North Korea may be the precursor to a more
substantive linkage of the railway systems in the peninsula through
China and the Russia Federation with the Trans Siberian Railway at
Khabarovsk. Such a linkage would allow South Korea, which is
effectively an 'island' on the lower half of the Korean peninsula,
to gain direct land access to the Eurasian and European continent
and add a new option to the existing sea and air transportation
routes and also significantly enhance South Korea's international
strategic position. Therefore, even though the newly established
link covered a total distance of 'only' 53 kilometers, the opening
of this short route across the Demilitarized Zone is definitely a
signal of major positive significance for relations between North
and South Korea. ...

"The DPP and its presidential nominee, former Premier Frank Hsieh,
must understand the necessity of taking prompt corrective action and
adopt a China policy which dumps the false mirage of 'separating
politics from economics' and puts consolidation of our democracy and
autonomy at the core of an economic and social development strategy
in order to regain the initiative in the cross-strait struggle and
upgrade our international competitiveness."

YOUNG