MEDIA REACTION: U.S.-TAIWAN ARMS SALES

UNCLAS AIT TAIPEI 001062 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.-TAIWAN ARMS SALES Summary: Taiwan's major Chinese-language dailies focused news coverage July 18 on U.S. Pacific Commander Admiral Timothy Keating's confirmation of the U.S. government's alleged decision to freeze arms sales to Taiwan; on the new pension law; and on Tropical Storm Kalmaegi's approach. In terms of editorials and commentaries, an op-ed in the pro-unification "United Daily News" talked about strategic thinking in China and the United States in light of the alleged suspension of U.S.-Taiwan arms sales. A column in the mass-circulation "Apple Daily" satirized Taiwan's arms procurement from the United States, saying it is like paying protection money. The column reminded the Taiwan government to be smart in buying weapons and not to waste money. End summary. A) "The Reconciliation across the Strait Reveals the U.S. and China's Strategic Thinking" Chen Hsin-chih, an Associate Professor of the Department of Political Science at National Cheng Kung University, opined in the pro-unification "United Daily News" [circulation: 400,000] (7/18): "... While the conciliatory atmosphere surrounding cross-Strait relations is growing, the picture of the United States and China's strategic thinking is clearer. In the short term, the possibility that two hegemonic powers [the United States and China] fight a war over Taiwan is decreasing. As a result, the United States will win a period of time to rest and revive. On the other hand, the Chinese Communists can focus on handling various domestic political and social conflicts to lay the foundation for the rise of their hegemony. Issues such as trade, human rights and being a responsible global stakeholder will be the focus of arguments between the United States and China in the future. "First of all, the easing of tensions across the Strait has mitigated the strain between the United States and China. This makes the United States flexible in policies facing China's peaceful rise. ... "Second, the United States' leading status in the world has been challenged in recent years. While the United States uses multilateral means to reestablish its leading role, winning mainland China's participation will be an indispensable prerequisite. If the United States maneuvers through the international mechanism with which it is familiar, mainland China will be a boost, not an obstruction, to help the United States revive. Because of the Chinese Communists' positive engagement, the United States was able to obtain the diplomatic achievement of North Korea's eventual denuclearization. Because of the Chinese Communists' assistance, the window to deal with the Darfur crisis in Sudan was opened. Sacrificing future cooperative opportunities between the United States and mainland China because of Taiwan is more a loss than a gain. The mitigation of cross-Strait tension reduces the United States' political and military costs, which [the United States] spends to stabilize global circumstances. "Third, using military means to prevent Taiwan from changing the status-quo might ruin the Chinese Communists' opportunity to have a peaceful rise. Dealing with the Taiwan issue peacefully might draw a new roadmap for [China's] hegemonic rise. The thaw of cross-Strait relations reduces the possibility of two powers, China and the United States, fighting a war directly on the Taiwan Strait. Mainland China will not sacrifice its achievements of its thirty-year economic reform. Moreover, [mainland China] will enhance its international image and win a better opportunity to become the next hegemonic power with better timing in the future. ..." B) "A Fine Deed" Yu Ai-tai wrote in the column "Spicy Apple" of the mass-circulation "Apple Daily" [circulation: 500,000] (7/18): "... Taiwan's security relies on the United States' protection, which is an embarrassing reality that [Taiwan] must face. Procuring weapons that the United States is willing to sell to Taiwan is more like paying protection money [to the United States] than preparing for war. Otherwise, how would the United States always pretend that it is worried about the imbalance of military posture across the Taiwan Strait, while it actually picks outdated arms to sell to Taiwan? ..." WANG