MEDIA REACTION: U.S.-CHINA-TAIWAN RELATIONS, TAIWAN'S UN

UNCLAS AIT TAIPEI 002272 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: U.S.-CHINA-TAIWAN RELATIONS, TAIWAN'S UN BID ¶1. Summary: Taiwan's major Chinese-language dailies focused news coverage October 3 on the inter-Korean summit Tuesday; on speculations about who will head the DPP now; and on the soaring commodity prices. In terms of editorials and commentaries, an editorial in the pro-independence "Liberty Times" called the United States' attention to China's restoration of an annual military exercise on Dongshan Island in early September and said Beijing's military intimidation against Taiwan will be the biggest test for the United States. An editorial in the pro-independence, English-language "Taiwan News," on the other hand, said the island's bid to join the UN under the name Taiwan this year has boosted Taiwan's space in the international community and placed Beijing in a defensive position . End summary. ¶2. U.S.-China-Taiwan Relations "China's Military Intimidation against Taiwan Will Be the Biggest Test for the United States" The pro-independence "Liberty Times" [circulation: 720,000] editorialized (10/3): "... China's intimidation against Taiwan appeared to be aiming at Taiwan's UN referendum on the surface, but in reality, China will intimidate Taiwan using saber-rattling anyway, even if Taiwan does not [push for] a UN referendum. In the beginning, China openly announced its opposition to Taiwan's UN referendum by imposing pressure on the United States, and it acted as if it has got a blank check for its preparations for imposing political, military and economic pressure against Taiwan. Whether China will seize this opportunity to endanger peace across the Taiwan Strait has indeed become a major test for the United States. ... "In the face of China's closing in step by step, the reaction Taiwan should have is definitely not to flinch; instead, it should more proactively safeguard its sovereignty and make full preparations politically, militarily and economically. The government, in particular, should strive to resist external pressure and encourage the Taiwan people's national awareness. It should strive to have the referendum on Taiwan's UN bid under the name Taiwan be passed so as to demonstrate to the international community the strong will of the Taiwan people against annexation. Since the DPP has already approved its normal country resolution, it should push for Taiwan's name change and write a new constitution in an orderly fashion so as to turn Taiwan a normal country as early as possible. "While China is using the UN referendum as an excuse for its secret deployment designated to alter the status quo across the Taiwan Strait unilaterally, the United States, in addition to announce openly its opposition to Taiwan's UN referendum, has even decided to postpone the plan to sell F-16 fighter jets to Taiwan. Such a decision has totally violated Washington's calls over the recent years for Taiwan to pass its arms procurements budget as early as possible so as to prevent military imbalance across the Taiwan Strait. Once China decides to take risks in desperation and thus sabotages the stability across the Taiwan Strait, the United States will encounter greater risks so as to be able to maintain regional security in the Western Pacific. It is really not smart to let this happen. "We must remind [our] American friends that opposition to Taiwan's UN referendum is one thing, while the fact that China is using the UN referendum to intimidate Taiwan is a separate issue. [Washington] should separate these two issues clearly and weigh which is more important. The UN referendum only involves differences between the U.S. and Taiwan governments toward certain policies. But for China's military intimidation against Taiwan, including Beijing's moves to use political, military and economic means to create crises in the Taiwan Strait, will cost immeasurable loss of the U.S. interests. China will surely get greedier and start to make greater demands so as to have a say in terms of cross-Strait issues. "Given the United States' recent moves to indulge China's suppression against Taiwan, changes will likely occur with regard to the Taiwan people's constant pro-U.S. attitude. ... Now, China is ready to impose pressure on Taiwan unscrupulously because Washington caters to China in opposing to Taiwan's UN referendum. This has proved that the so-called troublemaker is not Taiwan, but China; Washington has apparently confused its target when it placed pressure on Taiwan. Which is more dangerous, Taiwan's peaceful referendum or China's military intimidation? The U.S. government might want to think thrice about its answer." ¶3. Taiwan' UN Bid "'U.N. for Taiwan' Boosted Our Space" The pro-independence, English-language "Taiwan News" [circulation: 20,000] editorialized (10/3): "As anticipated, intense and rigid opposition by the People's Republic of China led to the failure of allied countries to raise the question of Taiwan's representation in the United Nations for the 15th consecutive year. Nevertheless, the Democratic Progressive Party-led government and citizens or concerned foreign supporters should not feel dispirited or pessimistic, as this year's effort, which was the first campaign in which Taiwan applied directly for U.N. membership, obtained very positive results. Passively speaking, this year's high-profile drive allowed the international community and the global media to gain a far greater contact, appreciation and understanding of the reality of the unjust and unfair treatment of Taiwan and our 23 million people in the global community and the U.N. On a more positive or proactive note, this year's campaign placed the PRC regime in a defensive position and compelled it to engage in an expensive mobilization of over 100 of its supporters in the U.N. against a campaign waged by less than 20 diplomatic allies of Taiwan. ... "In the longer run, the adoption, however belated, of an offensive and Taiwan-centric diplomatic strategy promises to allow our country to retain the initiative and to be able to select the most favorable battleground and tactics and compels Beijing to spend more time and resources on the defensive. Beijing has consistently adopted a strategy of diplomatically blockading Taiwan, but has now been placed in an unfavorable defensive position by Taipei's decision to 'come out of the closet' and press for its proper place in international society and the U.N. under the name of 'Taiwan.' At the same time, an offensive diplomatic strategy must not become a strategy of foolhardiness or adventurism, but instead must use the minimum resources and the maximum in wisdom and intelligence and manifest a high degree of creativity to boost the credibility of our diplomatic attractions and deterrence. ..." YOUNG