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