MEDIA REACTION: VIRGINIA TECH SHOOTING INCIDENT, U.S.

UNCLAS AIT TAIPEI 000887

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: VIRGINIA TECH SHOOTING INCIDENT, U.S.
FOREIGN POLICY, U.S.-TAIWAN RELATIONS



1. Summary: Taiwan's major Chinese-language dailies continued to
focus April 20news coverage on the Virginia Tech shooting incident
and its aftermath; on the 2008 presidential elections; and on other
local issues. In terms of editorials and commentaries, an editorial
in the pro-unification "United Daily News" reflected on the Virginia
Tech shooting incident and said ethnic issue will probably be the
most profound impact generated by this incident. A column in the
pro-status quo "China Times," discussed the State Department's
strategic plan for 2007-2012 and said the United States' diplomacy
in the near future will "continue to focus on intervening with other
countries' internal affairs and promoting U.S.-style democracy." An
op-ed piece in the pro-independence, English-language "Taipei Times"
discussed the United States' "one China" policy and said it is about
time that Taiwan's national leaders say no to the U.S.' "one China"
policy. End summary.


2. Virginia Tech Shooting Incident

"Lament and Reflections over the U.S. Campus Shooting Incident"

The pro-unification "United Daily News" [circulation: 400,000]
editorialized (4/20):

"A campus shooting incident happened in Virginia, in which 32
innocent teachers and students lost their lives in dorms and
classrooms, and the gunman himself also committed suicide. This
tragedy has not only exposed the problem of lenient gun control
[laws] in the United States but has, given the fact that the gunman
is a resident alien from South Korea, also stirred up already
sensitive ethnic sentiments in U.S. society. ...

"Perhaps the most profound impact generated by the Virginia Tech
shooting incident is the ethnic issue. To put it fairly, this
incident cannot be categorized as one caused by ethnic clashes, and
many of the previous shooting incidents on the U.S. campus were also
unrelated to the ethnic or racial background of the shooters. But
unfortunately, this violent campus shooting incident - the worst in
U.S. history - was committed by a student from South Korea, and it
has thus inevitably touched the deepest and most sensitive ethnic
nerve in all people. ...

"For a long time Taiwan and its people have been troubled by ethnic
issues ignited by its politicians. When traveling overseas, Taiwan
people, as well as mainland Chinese people, or even Asians in
general, may have all experienced discriminatory treatment caused by
the western world's worries about the 'yellow peril.' If the
Virginia Tech shooting incident triggers ethnic antagonism in the
United States again, all overseas Chinese people will be caught up
in the storm against Asian people. It will be another difficult
subject [for all] as to how to help different ethnic groups to work
on their tolerance and empathy."


3. U.S. Foreign Policy

"The United States' Future Diplomatic Strategy Will Continue to be
Interventionism"

The "International Outlook" column in the pro-status quo "China
Times" [circulation: 400,000] wrote (4/20):

"The U.S. State Department has [recently] published its strategic
plan for 2007-2012. In the beginning of this report, Secretary of
State Condoleezza Rice quoted President George W. Bush as saying 'It
is the policy of the United States to seek and support the growth of
democratic movements and institutions in every nation and culture
with the ultimate goal of ending tyranny in our world.' Rice
believes that to achieve this bold vision, America needs equally
bold diplomacy, and such diplomacy is aimed at changing the world
itself and not simply describing the current status of the world.

"Such [an objective] indicated that at least during Bush's term of
office, U.S. diplomacy will continue to focus on intervening in
other countries' internal affairs and promoting U.S.-style
democracy. The 'testing ground' of Iraq, however, dealt a ruthless
blow to this trend in diplomacy. What kind of a democracy has the
United States established in Iraq over the past four years? ... Why
is it that some Iraqi people still miss Saddam Hussein? This is
because even though Saddam Hussein was an authoritarian, he had at
least created a certain extent of unity and stability for his
nation, and his people were not living in misery. But what about
now? Politics in Iraq can be regarded as democratic now, but the
entire country is deeply caught in chaos, and internal turmoil has
made this country lose its hopes and objectives.

"This 'interventionism' of the United States, which 'denies a
country its sovereignty,' has never worked; instead, the situation
always gets worse the deeper [the United States] intervenes. Bush
has carried out two interventions [during his term] - namely,
FOREIGN POLICY, U.S.-TAIWAN RELATIONS

Afghanistan and Iraq, and how these countries will turn out in the
end is obvious to all. If Washington continues to use American
values to intervene with other countries in the future, the
consequences will be even worse."


4. U.S.-Taiwan Relations

"Time to Say No to US' 'One China'"

Michael Lin, a political commentator based in Taipei, opined in the
pro-independence, English-language "Taipei Times" [circulation:
30,000] (4/20):

"The US government has made it clear that it will not back Taiwan's
plan to apply for WHO membership under the name 'Taiwan.' On the
diplomatic front, the major obstacle facing Taiwan is the US'
adherence to the 'one China' policy. ... I believe that Taiwan's
diplomatic strategy towards the US should stress its core values and
adhere to the principles of reciprocity and coexistence in urging
the US to revise its outdated 'one China' policy, while letting the
US understand that whatever Taiwan does will benefit the US. ...

"Taiwan should then take aim at Washington's cross-strait policy and
Taiwan's democracy. First, the objective of US cross-strait policy
is to help the two sides of the Taiwan Strait to settle their
differences peacefully. However, Beijing is making every effort to
block Taiwan in the international arena. If the US does not want to
adjust its 'one China' policy and help Taiwan join important
international organizations, there will be no room for cross-strait
negotiations on an equal footing. Second, the circumstances when
the US first formulated its 'one China' policy were very different
from today's growing Taiwan consciousness. By adopting a policy
that obscures Taiwan's sovereignty, the US will not be able to help
Taipei and Beijing settle their differences. Third, the US'
China-leaning cross-strait policy has not only violated the basic
rights of the citizens of Taiwan to purse their freedom, democracy
and happiness, but it has also violated the founding spirit of the
US and the administration of US President George W. Bush's policy of
seeking global democratization.

"Faced with a difficult situation, Taiwan must make good use of its
resources, construct a discourse that best tallies with US interests
and come up with a strategy aimed at closing the gap between ideals
and reality. Only by doing so can we bring the international
community to recognize Taiwan as a sovereign state and eventually
join the WHO and the UN. Therefore, it is about time that our
national leaders said no to the US' 'one China' policy."

YOUNG