U.S.-CHINA-TAIWAN RELATIONS

UNCLAS AIT TAIPEI 001170 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: U.S.-CHINA-TAIWAN RELATIONS Summary: Taiwan's major Chinese-language dailies focused August 8 news coverage on the Beijing Olympic Games; on the Lobbying Act coming into effect in Taiwan on Friday; and on Taiwan's inflation and rising commodity prices. Both the pro-unification "United Daily News" and centrist, KMT-leaning "China Times" had extensive reports on United States President George W. Bush and other world leaders' arrival in Beijing. In terms of editorials and commentaries, an editorial in the pro-independence "Liberty Times" responded to Bush's reiteration of commitment to peace and security across the Taiwan Strait, which Bush made in Bangkok on Thursday. The editorial said that it is President Ma Ying-jeou, who is the person changing the status quo across the Taiwan Strait. The editorial therefore urged the United States to see the reality before it is too late. End summary. "The Ma Administration Is Joining Hands with China to Change the Status Quo across the Taiwan Strait" The pro-independence "Liberty Times" [circulation: 720,000] editorialized (8/8): "... Before heading China to attend the Beijing Olympic Games opening ceremony, [President George W.] Bush's reiteration of the firm commitment under the Taiwan Relations Act was apparent to the Chinese leaders' ears. As we still remember, in a speech delivered in the United States at the end of July, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi emphasized that no matter how cross-Strait relations develop, the one-China principle will never change, and there cannot be any changes to the principles in the three communiques. Yang apparently intended to show his lofty stance to the United States government. However, Bush's remarks yesterday were equivalent to negating Yang's tentative messages, meaning that the Taiwan issue is not [solely] decided by China. ... "If [Taiwan] President Ma Ying-jeou's pro-China roadmap continues to be implemented, not only will Taiwan's sovereignty be gradually eroded, the United States' 'one-China policy' will be shaken. That is why United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice gave the Ma administration warnings that although the United States hopes cross-Strait relations improve, the United States has relations with Taiwan as well. Furthermore, Bush himself publicly stated the [United States'] commitment under the Taiwan Relations Act. Thus, the United States is by no means unaware of the possibility that the status quo of Taiwan's sovereignty might change. "On the other hand, the Ma administration's pro-China roadmap, which has been in effect for more than two months, has created challenges for the United States. The United States' consistent policy is that neither side of the Taiwan Strait should change the status quo unilaterally, which Bush reiterated once again yesterday. However, the problem is that President Ma, who insists on moving toward ultimate unification [with China], is constantly downgrading [Taiwan's] national sovereignty and getting close to China. This constitutes a danger, which is the KMT's and the Chinese Communist Party's joint intention to change the status quo across the Taiwan Strait. Therefore, Bush statement that 'we are witnessing a new period of stability and peace,' is actually a pernicious development that threatens the United States' interests in the western Pacific. ... "In the last two months, Ma advocates 'no unification, no independence and no use of force' and claims to be a 'peace-maker.' However, judging from Ma's deeds, it is true [that Ma] does not want independence and it is false [that Ma] does not want unification. [Ma's] policy of easing regulations regarding [Taiwan enterprises'] investment [in China] is nothing but locking Taiwan up in China and fulfilling [the goal] that 'Taiwan is part of China.' We have to remind [our] American friends. If [the United States] regards the person who tried hard in the last few years to normalize Taiwan as a state as a trouble-maker, while regarding capitulationism in pursuit of ultimate unification as being advantageous to allay the tension across the Taiwan Strait, [the United States] would make be making the mistake of considering the alarm before the storm as good news. Once the Ma administration sends Taiwan into China's jaws of death, there will be no hope of maintaining Taiwan's democracy and security." YOUNG