MEDIA REACTION: US CROSS-STRAIT POLICY

UNCLAS AIT TAIPEI 002451 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: US CROSS-STRAIT POLICY Summary: News coverage of Taiwan's major Chinese-language dailies November 6 still focused on consumer price hikes. They also reported on the US Department of Defense (DoD) corrections to a news report on its Web site that originally said that the US is against Taiwan independence and for peaceful reunification of China and Taiwan. Both DoD and the Department of State said the US cross-Strait policy remains unchanged. In terms of editorials and commentaries, an editorial in the mass-circulation "Apple Daily" said that, if the DoD news report is true, the US may be trying to rid itself of the obligation of protecting Taiwan. End summary. A) "The US Secretly Scheming to Get Rid of Taiwan Relations Act" The mass-circulation "Apple Daily" [circulation: 530,000] editorialed (11/06): "During his visit to China US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates said [President] George W. Bush opposes Taiwan independence and defines the referendum on Taiwan's UN bid as a 'referendum on independence.' The worst is that President Bush actually said he would be happy to see the two sides across the Strait reunify peacefully. "The DPP believes the US does not want Taiwan to be unified with China, lest it lose an important chess piece with which to hold China in check. Therefore, the US could only privately support the DPP's continued rule. This is a matter of principle. Even if the US does not care if Taiwan unifies with China, as long as Taiwan does not want reunification and if China uses force, the US cannot but get involved. This US dilemma toward Taiwan is the reason why Ah-bian dares to offend the US. In other words, Ah-bian, who is good at kidnapping other people, has also kidnapped the US. However, Bian and the DPP are too naive. "Bush's saying that he is happy to see peaceful reunification is very grave. It is much worse than the change of wording from 'not support' to 'oppose' Taiwan independence. Bush seems to have moved from being anti-Bian but not anti-Taiwan to being anti-Taiwan. We hope this story is not true. If it is, Taiwan will be in serious danger. Maybe the US and China would reach some consensus, such as 'joint management of the Taiwan Strait,' or 'an implicit agreement to a military invasion of Taiwan,' etc. The fact that the 'UN bid referendum' has been defined by the US as an 'independence referendum' may as well be an action for the US to prepare for ridding itself of the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA). "The US has been constrained by the TRA for years and faced with much quibbling and protest from China. This has deeply affected the broader US global strategy. In addition to being kidnapped by Taiwan, the US side has already made many complaints [to Taiwan]. The US is only waiting for Taiwan to make violations so that it can take the opportunity to get rid of Taiwan and the restraint of the TRA. It can justifiably tell Congress, the media, and the public that Taiwan, not the [U.S.] Executive Branch, is to blame. Taiwan's violation is to 'declare independence' or make provocative moves. "The US has deployed a trap in order to free itself by publicly stating that the TRA protects a Taiwan of the status quo rather than a Taiwan that declares independence, provokes China and brings war. On the one hand, this is to warn the DPP authorities not to seek trouble. On the other hand, this can be seen as a statement that Taiwan's trespassing the red line is the premise for the US to shake off its obligation to protect Taiwan. It is because Taiwan has secretly substituted the object in the TRA. This Taiwan is no long SIPDIS the original Taiwan as when the TRA was enacted. Then the US is surely not obligated to protect an object that has become not related to the TRA. "This is the reason and schema in which the US defines the UN referendum as an independence referendum. Following this US logic: the UN referendum is equals a referendum on independence, equals a Taiwan different from the one mentioned in the TRA, equals no obligation for the US to protect Taiwan, equals a cross-Strait war in which the US will not be involved, equals US-China relations unaffected. Taiwan's security depends on entangling the US. How can we let the US get away and China take advantage? It is too dangerous. Do the Bian authorities realize this trap?" YOUNG