MEDIA REACTION: CHINA'S ANTI-SATELLITE MISSILE TEST, DONALD

UNCLAS AIT TAIPEI 000193 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: CHINA'S ANTI-SATELLITE MISSILE TEST, DONALD KEYSER CASE ¶1. Summary: Taiwan's major Chinese-language dailies continued to focus their coverage January 25 on the debt-ridden Rebar Asia Pacific Group, and on the controversial Presidential Office Allowance for State Affairs case. Taiwan's papers gave moderate, straightforward news coverage to U.S. President George W. Bush's State of the Union Address Wednesday. In terms of editorials and commentaries, the "International Outlook" column of the pro-status quo "China Times" discussed China's recent anti-satellite missile test. The article said Beijing's move was "designated to show that it has the ability to engage in all kinds of arms races," and as a result, "China's rise is not completely peaceful any more." A column in the mass-circulation "Apple Daily," on the other hand, discussed the Donald Keyser case. The article said the case has produced a negative impact on Taiwan-U.S. intelligence cooperation, and it is difficult to mend such a relationship in the short run. End summary. ¶2. China's Anti-Satellite Missile Test "China's Rise Is Not Completely Peaceful Any More" The "International Outlook" column of the pro-status quo "China Times" [circulation: 400,000] commented (1/25): "... China's military strategy has experienced an overhaul since its embassy in Yugoslavia was bombed by the United States; it no longer follows Deng Xiaoping's [dictum] to 'conceal one's ability and bide one's time' but has decided to follow what Hu Jintao and Wen Jiabao often say: 'Without progress, one will be vulnerable to attack.' As a result, in addition to significant investment in its military build-up, China no longer covers up its real [military] strength. China's moves, such as its proactive announcement of the entry into service of its J-10 fighter jets, and its launch of a missile into space, were all designed to show that it has the ability to engage in all kinds of arms races. The next step rests on how China will expand its naval forces. China's rise is not completely peaceful any more. "China's [military] acceleration was clearly linked to Japan's proactive engagement in military cooperation [with the United States] and its plan to amend its constitution to move toward militarism. Judged from this perspective, Northeast Asia would be turbulent even without the nuclear crisis on the Korean Peninsula, let alone the fact that the nuclear crisis is indeed very difficult to resolve." ¶3. Donald Keyser Case "Intelligence Agents Are Not Spies" Columnist Antonio Chiang noted in the mass-circulation "Apple Daily" [circulation: 500,000] (1/25): "Former U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Donald Keyser was sentenced to a year and a day in prison for his inappropriate relationship with Isabelle Cheng, a female Taiwan intelligence officer stationed in Washington D.C. The judge ruled that this case bore no relevance to espionage. Taiwan's government consequently heaved a sign of relief [over the ruling], which, however, disappointed those readers who expected to see a sensational and exciting [soap] opera. ... According to the court, Keyser's charges included: secretly bringing home and downloading unclassified documents, concealing his trip to Taiwan, and concealing his intimate relationship with a female Taiwan intelligence officer. In fact, Keyser's personal relationship with Isabelle Cheng was the only offence he had committed. Nonetheless, this incident has already produced a negative impact on Taiwan-U.S. intelligence cooperation, which will be difficult to mend in a short period of time. "In an attempt to show Taiwan's sincerity in offering full cooperation with the United States, Taiwan unexpectedly handed all documents provided by Keyser, which were labeled 'classified,' to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. These documents, which were supposed to be hidden from the public, can all be found in the court records. Any trained intelligence officers can trace the footsteps of Taiwan-U.S. relations based on these documents. ..." YOUNG