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

UNCLAS AIT TAIPEI 002550 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 REFERENDUM ¶1. Summary: Taiwan's major Chinese-language dailies focused news coverage December 1-3 on the controversy over the voting system for the January legislative elections; on China's refusal to allow the USS Kitty Hawk and its supporting vessels to dock in Hong Kong in late November; and on the 2008 presidential elections. In terms of editorials and commentaries, an editorial in the pro-independence "Liberty Times" called the attention of both China and the United States to the results of a recent opinion survey conducted by the Straits Exchange Foundation, which showed that more Taiwan people preferred independence to unification with China. The article also called on the United States to support Taiwan's bid to join the UN. With regard to the USS Kitty Hawk event, an editorial in the pro-independence, English-language "Taipei Times" called China a country "that is chronically unable to understand its obligations as a responsible nation." An editorial in the conservative, pro-unification, English-language "China Post" also said the even has "China in an unfavorable light." A separate "Taipei Times" op-ed, on the other hand, commented on Taiwan's UN referendum and urged Washington not to penalize Taiwan for its "errant behavior" by withholding the sale of F-16 C/D fighter jets. The article said "weakening Taiwan's defense will simply add to the U.S.' burden." End summary. ¶2. U.S.-China-Taiwan Relations A) "'Anti-Annexation' Is the Interests That Rise above [Those of the] Political Parties and Concern All People" The pro-independence "Liberty Times" [circulation: 720,000] editorialized (12/1): "The [results] of the 'National Poll on the Twenty Years of Exchanges between Both Sides of the Taiwan Strait,' which were recently published by the Strait s Exchange Foundation, showed that the Taiwan respondents supporting independence have risen to 44.9 percent. Twenty-three percent of those polled said they preferred maintaining the status quo, while 18.6 percent said they favored unification between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait; 13.5 percent of the respondents either declined to answer the question or said they have no ideas about it. When asked [to choose between independence and unification] if the status quo cannot be maintained, 52 percent of the respondents preferred independence while 24.4 percent said they favored unification. ... "Not only the ruling and opposition parties in Taiwan, but also China, should pay attention to the results of this opinion. The proposals raised by Hu Jintao at the 17th Chinese Communist Party Congress regarding 'both sides of the Taiwan Strait being of one China; 'both sides being of the same organismic community;' and 'people of both sides of the Taiwan Strait jointly deciding on Taiwan's future' have been rejected by a majority of the public opinion in Taiwan. Such an indication showed [Beijing's] so-called 'placing hope in the Taiwan people' is nothing but a hollow slogan. If the Chinese leaders really attach importance to the Taiwan people, they should respect the choice made by Taiwan's mainstream public view. "In addition, we also hope other friendly countries, such as the United States, will see that to maintain Taiwan's status as an independent sovereignty and to turn the island into a fully normal country are the wishes of a majority of the Taiwan people rather than a false image created by the politicians. Movements such as the writing of a new constitution, name change, and Taiwan's UN bid are those 'desired by the people' and a natural outcome when Taiwan moves toward becoming a democratic country. If other friendly countries like the United States approve of Taiwan's democratic values and the Taiwan people's right to determine their own future, they should not oppose Taiwan's UN referendum. Instead, they should assist Taiwan in becoming a UN member as early as possible. ..." B) "For the US, It's No Port in a Storm" The pro-independence, English-language "Taipei Times" [circulation: 30,000] editorialized (12/1): "... Beijing's refusal to allow the Kitty Hawk and its supporting vessels to dock in Hong Kong was not a subtle dig between wordsmith diplomats; it made a mockery of the US Navy and -- worse -- on Thanksgiving, possibly the most important holiday for families in the US, let alone for sailors on active duty and loved ones who wasted good money to meet them in Hong Kong. ... "Describing the actions of the Chinese over refusing safe haven for the minesweepers, Admiral Tim Keating, the head of the US Pacific Command, said: 'It is not, in our view, conduct that is indicative of a country who understands its obligations as a responsible nation. Strong language, indeed. But it points to an even uglier truth, and that is that China -- on international relations, human rights, disease control and notification, environmental protection, quality control in trade and any other number of critical matters -- is a country that is, indeed, chronically unable to understand its obligations as a responsible nation. ... Now, by gratuitously infuriating the most powerful military on the planet, we can see that even these fundamental tactics are beyond Beijing's capabilities, let alone explaining away the deep-seated hostility toward the US that prompted the saga. It will be fascinating to chart the fallout." C) "Who's Coming to Dinner?" The conservative, pro-unification, English-language "China Post" [circulation: 30,000] editorialized (12/1): "... But last week in Hong Kong, many Americans were disappointed when their loved ones failed to show up for dinner on Thanksgiving Day. These Americans, about 8,000 servicemen aboard the USS Kitty Hawk and the carrier's battle group including submarines and escorts, were eager to spend their Thanksgiving holiday in Hong Kong, their favorite port of call and destination for rest and recreation. Many families of crew members had flown to Hong Kong to meet them, only to find at the last minute that their dream for a Hong Kong holiday was blighted. ... "In a sense, the GIs suffered a collateral casualty from China's diplomatic fire, and China did not emerge unscathed either. A four-day R&R vacation in Hong Kong -- Suzie Wong's world -- by 8,000 U.S. servicemen and their families would have been a bonanza for the island's tourism industry. Turning them away was unwise at best. Besides, it was not that 'humanitarian' to deprive American navy men of the chance to meet with their families at the Thanksgiving dinner table. It put China in an unfavorable light. Few would applaud Beijing for 'teaching the Yankees a lesson' this way. In diplomacy, the creation of a win-win situation is the best choice. Or, if impossible, at least a win-loss outcome is better than a loss-loss result as the one created by Beijing's Thanksgiving flip-flop." ¶3. Taiwan's UN Referendum "Lessons from the UN Referendum" Li Thian-hok, a commentator based in Pennsylvania, opined in the pro-independence, English-language "Taipei Times" [circulation: 30,000] (12/2): "... While the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government may have failed to consult Washington in advance before it committed itself to the UN referendum, and thus deserves Washington's wrath, it would be rash to judge the referendum as merely an election ploy. The fact is the Taiwanese people are fed up with China's persistent efforts to isolate and denigrate Taiwan's status. ... Meanwhile in Taiwan the number of signatures endorsing the UN referendum under the Taiwan name has now reached 2.7 million, way above the legal threshold. The two versions of the UN referendum will be held in conjunction with the presidential poll on March 22 next year. While the Central Election Commission is still working out the procedure for voting, the referendum will proceed. Neither the DPP nor the KMT can now abandon the UN referendum without committing political suicide. "So it is somewhat surprising that American Institute in Taiwan Director Stephen Young reiterated US objections to the referendum in a press conference on Nov. 9. He complained that the referendum 'poses a threat to cross-strait stability and appears inconsistent ... with the spirit of President Chen's public commitments.' Washington and Taipei are now at an impasse. Neither side is willing nor able to change its position. One or both of the referendums may well pass despite the high threshold (a majority of all eligible voters) if the turnout rate is high enough. The outcome is unpredictable because the KMT is playing a complex game of discouraging voting for both referendums while pretending to promote its own version. What is important, however, is not the outcome of the referendums but how to restore mutual trust between the US and Taiwan and how to prevent a similar quarrel from developing between the two long-standing democratic allies. ... "... Taipei should pay greater attention to the interests of the US and how those interests affect those of Taiwan. Taipei must learn to work closely with Washington, since both share the same democratic values and strategic interests in peace and stability of East Asia. No effort should be spared to restore mutual trust. ... For Washington it is best to resist the temptation to penalize Taiwan for its errant behavior, for example, by withholding the sale of F-16 C/D fighter jets. Weakening Taiwan's defense will simply add to the US' burden. "The status quo is changing every day as the People's Liberation Army develops ever greater capacity, not just to invade Taiwan, but eventually to challenge US dominance of Asia and beyond. To deter a conflict, Washington must maintain a sufficient naval and air presence in the Western Pacific, as mandated by the Taiwan Relations Act. In the long run, the US must endeavor to persuade China to renounce the use of force against Taiwan and to respect the right of the Taiwanese to determine their own future without outside pressure, because a more democratic and peace-loving China is in the common interest of the US and Taiwan. Taiwan's security is ultimately the US' security as well." YOUNG