MEDIA REACTION: TAIWAN'S UN REFERENDUM

UNCLAS AIT TAIPEI 002150 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR INR/R/MR, EAP/TC, EAP/PA, EAP/PD - NIDA EMMONS DEPARTMENT PASS AIT/WASHINGTON E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO TW SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: TAIWAN'S UN REFERENDUM ¶1. Summary: Taiwan's major Chinese-language dailies focused news coverage September 20 on the 62nd session of the UN General Assembly, in which Taiwan's UN bid was blocked for the 15th consecutive year Wednesday; on the Federal Reserve's announcement Tuesday to cut its benchmark interest rate; and on the investigation into an American citizen who was arrested in Kaohsiung Monday on suspicion of murdering a Taiwan woman. The centrist, KMT-leaning "China Times" ran an exclusive news story on page four with the headline "Ma: It Is Worth Further Study as to [Whether Taiwan Needs to Hold] the [UN] Referendum." ¶2. In terms of editorials and commentaries, a commentary in the mass-circulation "Apple Daily" said Beijing has sensed the danger of turning the Taiwan issue into an international matter and is thus trying to box it in the frame of China's internal affairs. A news analysis in the pro-independence "Liberty Times" said Taiwan will be a winner as long as it can internationalize the UN referendum issue and create the greatest marginal benefits out of it. An editorial in the pro-independence, English-language "Taipei Times" said the UN referendum can show the world first-hand "how China bullies those who dare to stand up for themselves, and how easily the UN will fall into step when required." A "Taipei Times" op-ed, however, suggested that the Taiwan people decide on their priorities and choose a "wiser" UN referendum question that can fully enable Taiwan to express their will and in the meantime represent their attempt to maintain the "status quo." End summary. A) "The Lemon That Has Been Squeezed into Lemon Juice" Columnist Antonio Chiang noted in his column in the mass-circulation "Apple Daily" [circulation: 530,000] (9/20): "... Beijing used to accuse Chen Shui-bian of destroying cross-Strait relations and endangering peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region. But this time, it only mentioned the situation across the Taiwan Strait and did not say a word about the Asia-Pacific area. Such subtle change indicated that Beijing has sensed the danger of turning the Taiwan issue into an international matter and is thus trying to box it in the frame of China's internal affairs. But, just like the fact that lemons cannot be changed back into lemons again once they have been squeezed into lemon juice, the Taiwan issue cannot be changed back into a domestic issue once it has been internationalized. ... "The Taiwan issue is closely related to Asia-Pacific security, and this is neither rhetoric nor publicity but a strategic security issue. The Taiwan issue has repercussions for complicated international politics, and it is not something that can be resolved unilaterally by governments on both sides of the Taiwan Strait. The Beijing authorities must have been alert and perceptive of this point; that is why they have been acting so anxiously lately." B) "China [Seeking to] Make [Taiwan's UN Referendum] Bigger; the Taiwan Issue Has [Thus] Become Internationalized" Deputy Editor-in-Chief Tsou Jiing-wen noted in the pro-independence "Liberty Times" [circulation: 720,000] (9/18): "... 'The bigger [Taiwan's UN referendum] gets, the better [it is for Taiwan]' has been the [Taiwan] government's strategic objective this year when it sought, for the first time, to enter the UN under the name Taiwan, and both internal and external factors have contributed to it. On the international level, [Taiwan] can shape public opinion, seek [other countries'] sympathy [for its UN bid], and thus enlarge the island's visibility. Domestically, the [UN bid] is essential in building Taiwan-centric awareness and it can help boost campaigning. "Given the fact that China is a permanent member of the UN Security Council, everyone knows what the result will be of [Taiwan's UN bid at the] UN General Assembly session, which convened on September 18, regardless of which name Taiwan uses to apply for UN membership. Since the 'result' is already predictable, what is important for Taiwan lies in the 'process.' Taiwan will be a winner as long as its UN bid can create the greatest marginal benefits. As expected, China's typical reaction to it was like a well-trained dog, which would rush forward even though what lay ahead of it was a virtual bone. China has become the best supporting actor in the public opinion war in Taiwan this time. "One can either play up or play down the referendum matter no matter whether it is for joining or re-joining the UN. But the United States has accepted China's definition and made a federal case of it by calling it an 'important step' toward Taiwan independence. The referendum, as a result, was immediately turned into a hot issue and upgraded from the level of an electoral tactic for domestic consumption into a 'sacred war' for [Taiwan's] national dignity and international identification. The U.S. misjudgment has made it more difficult for it to intervene afterwards, but the root of the problem still lies in China. ... There are still six months remaining in the run-up to the presidential election next March. Taiwan must watch every step it takes in this long-term battle. But given the way Washington and Beijing have started, it is a foregone conclusion that Taiwan's UN bid can not possibly be played down [at this point]." C) "To Be Heard Is Victory Enough" The pro-independence, English-language "Taipei Times" [circulation: 30,000] editorialized (9/20): "... After 13 years of failure, this is the first time the government has applied for UN membership under the name 'Taiwan,' a departure from the practice of using the formal title 'Republic of China.' Another bout of disappointment notwithstanding, Taiwan is to some degree better off this year in its pursuit of a UN seat. ... The more Taiwan speaks to the international community, the better it can demonstrate that it and China are separate countries. And Chinese officials are welcome to deliver incensed responses. The more ridiculous and strident their comments, the more credibility Taiwan secures and the more unifying the effect on all Taiwanese. ... "Even so, it appears China has had success in driving a wedge between Taiwan and the US by pressuring the latter to oppose the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government's proposed UN referendum. This opposition came in the shape of a certain US official dismissing Taiwan's statehood. Some breakthrough, until one considers that the Chinese face enormous problems selling this drivel to the Taiwanese man and woman on the street. Until that time, we can expect the Chinese Foreign Ministry to take comfort from the US State Department's attempts to mute the forces of liberty in Taiwan. ... Let the world see how democratic Taiwan is, and how it differs from an autocratic China. Let the world see first-hand how China bullies those who dare to stand up for themselves -- and how easily the UN will fall into step when required." D) "Proposing a Wiser UN Referendum" Cho Hui-wan, an associate professor and chair of the Graduate Institute of International Politics at National Chung Hsing University, opined in the pro-independence, English-language "Taipei Times" [circulation: 30,000] (9/19): "... The majority of countries have been forced to acknowledge that there is only 'one China,' but still continue to have substantial relations with de facto independent Taiwan. This inconsistency between the legal and the actual has existed for several decades. Although the U.S. has used harsh words against Taiwan, it has not, however, accepted China's position that Taiwan is a part of the People's Republic of China. Taiwanese should give serious thought as to whether in the foreseeable future there is the possibility of a breakthrough to Taiwan's advantage in this inconsistent state of affairs. If not, wouldn't it be better for Taiwanese, who are already sovereign, to bear with this inconsistency for awhile, rather than forcing the international community to break open this ambiguity and choose between China and Taiwan? ... "It is unfortunate for Taiwan that it is excluded from international organizations, but it is fortunate for its citizens that Taiwan is a de facto independent country that can control its own fate. It wouldn't be wise for Taiwan to lose what it has in pursuit of what it doesn't, would it? But what can be done now that the process of holding a referendum is already started, and neither party will relent? If people can tell the difference between advantages and disadvantages, what can be won and what can be lost, the referendum should be changed to the question: 'Do you agree that the UN should not exclude Taiwan?' Such a question would fully enable Taiwanese to express their will and it would clearly not represent an attempt to change the 'status quo.'" YOUNG