MEDIA REACTION: U.S.-TAIWAN RELATIONS

UNCLAS AIT TAIPEI 001314 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR INR/R/MR, EAP/TC, EAP/PA, EAP/PD - DAVID FIRESTEIN DEPARTMENT PASS AIT/WASHINGTON E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO TW SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: U.S.-TAIWAN RELATIONS Summary: Taiwan's major Chinese-language dailies focused news coverage June 9-11 on the 2008 presidential election, on the heavy rainfall throughout the island over the past week; on former President Lee Teng-hui's visit to Japan, and on other local issues. The pro-unification "United Daily News" front-paged a banner headline June 11 that said "Blue [Camp] to Push for Referendum on [Cross-Strait] Direct Transportation." In terms of editorials and commentaries, an editorial in the pro-independence "Liberty Times" discussed the U.S.-Taiwan relations and said China is accustomed to suppressing Taiwan via the United States. The article said China's luring away Taiwan's ally, Costa Rica, recently was a move to kill two birds -- the United States and Taiwan -- with one stone. End summary. "Taiwan-U.S. Engagement Is Built on the Belief in Democracy by the People of Both Countries" The pro-independence "Liberty Times" [circulation: 500,000] editorialized (6/9): "During his speech to a conference on 'Democracy and Security' in Prague, U.S. President George W. Bush praised Taiwan for being able to maintain a friendship with the United States and push for democratic reform at the same time. Bush also said he disagreed with China's leaders who believe that they can continue to open the nation's economy without also opening its political system. The engagement between Taiwan and the United States is built primarily on the belief in democratic values by the people of both countries. ... "... Taiwan's experience has nonetheless proved what Bush emphasized [in his speech] -- namely, 'being able to maintain a friendship with the United States and push for democratic reform at the same time' -- is plausible. Bush's remark at this time was obviously aimed at expressing [his] dissatisfaction and impatience toward the long-stalled democratic reform in China. ... "In fact, some people in the United States and U.S. government have constantly questioned the rise of China. U.S. National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley pointed out in April 2006 that 'we hope China can become a democratic country and can work with the United States, but China is moving in the completely opposite direction.' Now, the truth lies clearly before of us, and it is impractical to have fantasy about China. Owing to the most-favored-nation treatment granted by the United States, China, with its rapidly rising economy, is now having increasingly severe trade disputes with the United States. The results of China's proactive military expansion also enables it to invade the territorial waters of Japan and Taiwan, to have its submarines stalk USS Kitty Hawk carrier battle group, and to test-fire missiles to destroy its satellites. All these indicate that the so-called 'upcoming China-U.S. conflicts' are by no means a sensational statement. "According to Bush's diplomatic strategic conception, it is a major pillar to promote democracy all over the world. But China has taken advantage of its economic capability to provide shelter to anti-democratic forces worldwide, creating trouble for the United States and impeding it in terms of foreign affairs, so that the latter has had to offer bargaining chips in exchange for [China's cooperation]. Among [all the things that China has done], using the United States to suppress Taiwan is a trick that China has often played. China's diplomatic containment toward Taiwan lately shows that it has reached out into the backyard of the United States, luring Costa Rica to give up Taipei and choose Beijing. Such a move indicates that China was trying to kill two birds with one stone -- namely, it was aiming against both the United States and Taiwan. This is a lesson that both Washington and Taipei should learn. "Democratic Taiwan is a longstanding friend of the United States, while totalitarian China is the United States' potential enemy. This is an enduring fundamental strategic situation. China is covetous of Taiwan, primarily because it is keeping an eye on the Pacific and wants to challenge the U.S. domain of influence. It is a pity that some American friends fail to see the bigger picture, and knowing China's growing threat to Taiwan and the United States, they still advocate that Taiwan proactively open its investments in China and push for the three links across the Taiwan Strait. Given China's attitude in 'opening economics but tightly grasping politics,' if Taiwan's economy is absorbed by China, it will not only fail to help foster China's democratization but will also shake up the unsinkable battleship in the democratic camp and sabotage the common interests shared by Taiwan and the United States. Only when Taiwan is self-determined, economically prosperous and democratically secure in its politics can it become a driving force to help the United States to promote democracy all over the world." YOUNG