MEDIA REACTION: U.S.-CHINA-TAIWAN RELATIONS

UNCLAS AIT TAIPEI 000654 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: U.S.-CHINA-TAIWAN RELATIONS Summary: News coverage of Taiwan's major Chinese-language dailies March 22 focused on the year-end legislators' elections, on the 2008 presidential election, and on local political and social issues. In terms of editorials and commentaries, an editorial in the limited-circulation, conservative, pro-unification, English-language "China Post" discussed AIT Director Stephen Young's address during an American Chamber of Commerce's annual post-Chinese New Year gathering Tuesday. The article echoed Director Young's remarks on expanding cross-Strait relations and urged the Taiwan leaders to have "a grand vision in mapping out plans for the island's future." An op-ed piece in the limited-circulation, pro-independence, English-language "Taipei Times," on the other hand, discussed the development of U.S.-Taiwan relations following the upcoming Congress and presidential elections in both Taiwan and the United States. The article said "An ongoing dialogue system could help smooth out political differences while each side is making its policies." End summary. A) "Time to Expand Cross-Strait Ties" The conservative, pro-unification, English-language "China Post" [circulation: 30,000] (3/22): "American Institute in Taipei [sic] (AIT) Director Stephen M. Young on Tuesday urged Taiwan to further open its economic ties with China, suggesting that 'for this place to prosper, people, goods and capital should be able to move more freely across the Strait.' We wonder whether or not our government leaders have the wisdom to listen to Young's comments. ... How true those words are. As we have time and again pointed out in our editorials, the tendency of the government to limit the development of relations with the Chinese mainland has been hampering the island's development and has resulted in stagnation and isolation. The Republic of China's leaders must have a grand vision in mapping out plans for the island's future. A narrow, provincial outlook can never taken [sic] Taiwan out of its current predicament." B) "Dialogue Will Be Key during the Elections" Nat Bellocchi, former chairman of AIT and now a special adviser to the Liberty Times Group, opined in the pro-independence, English-language "Taipei Times" [circulation: 30,000] (3/22): "... The elections of Congress and a new president in the US will come only a few months after those in Taiwan. Any change in the relationship between Washington and Taipei will be determined in the early days of the new Taiwanese government and in the midst of US elections -- not necessarily the best time for diplomatic change. Early next year, Taiwan will have a new government. The US, however, will be dispatching personnel and developing its policies only in early 2009. An ongoing dialogue system could help smooth out political differences while each side is making its policies." YOUNG