MEDIA REACTION: THE BEIJING OLYMPIC GAMES; PRESIDENT BUSH'S

UNCLAS AIT TAIPEI 001189 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: THE BEIJING OLYMPIC GAMES; PRESIDENT BUSH'S VISIT IN ASIA; U.S.-CHINA-TAIWAN RELATIONS ¶1. Summary: Taiwan's major Chinese-language dailies focused August 9-11 news coverage on the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games; on weightlifter Chen Wei-ling winning Taiwan's first medal in the Olympics; and on the conflict in South Ossetia. In terms of editorials and commentaries, a column in the pro-independence "Liberty Times" criticized the grand opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games, saying calling it a failure that sacrificed individualism and did not touch people's souls at all. An op-ed in the centrist, KMT-leaning "China Times" offered several reflections from the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics, including linking the implications between the Olympics and the conflict in South Ossetia. The op-ed also implied that DPP Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen's analogy of the Beijing Olympic Games to the 1936 Games hosted by Nazi Germany does not make sense. Both the conservative, pro-unification, English-language "China Post" and pro-independence, English-language "Taiwan News" criticized United States President George W. Bush's attendance at the Beijing Olympic Games for ignoring China's poor records in human rights. An op-ed in the pro-independence, English-language "Taipei Times" warned both Washington and Taipei to be aware of the threat of China's developing missile capability with respect to its 'areal denial' strategy in the Taiwan Strait. END summary. ¶2. The Beijing Olympic Games A) "A Reflection from the Chinese Netizens' Scolding: A 'Failed' Olympics Opening" Cao Changqing, an independent commentator, wrote in his column in the pro-independence "Liberty Times" [circulation: 720,000] (8/11): "The Chinese government used up all its resources to present the Olympic Games opening ceremony to the whole world in a style of 'grandiosity, spectacular fireworks, big colors, big groups, and extravagancy.' The opening nevertheless was a 'big failure' and was criticized by Chinese netizens. [The opening] was regarded by [Chinese netizens] as an 'upgraded version of North Korean big group-dancing: a big scene with empty content; human waves tactics without humanity!'... [The opening]...squandered money to create the most garish Olympics in history. ... "It was really because [Beijing Olympics opening ceremony director] Zhang Yimou's main thought was to propagandize [China's] state and national pride rather than the Olympic spirit. Therefore, no matter how many people Zhang mobilized and the lighting, color and digital techniques he used to present orderly squares and shouts just like operating robots, [Zhang] was not able to fill the opening ceremony with the soul, which is the spirit of human beings' freedom. ..." B) "The Post-Colonial Beijing Olympic Games" Chang Teng-chi, an assistant professor at the Institute of Strategy and International Affairs at National Chung Cheng University, opined in the centrist, KMT-leaning "China Times" [circulation: 400,000] (8/11) "The opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics was held smoothly. At the juncture that Chinese netizens commented on [Beijing Olympics opening ceremony director] Zhang Yimou's success and failures, and Taiwan opposition leader [DPP Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen]'s condemnation that the Beijing Olympics are tantamount to the Nazis' [Games in 1936], a war with serious impact on the international order, despite receiving little media attention is developing: a conflict between Georgia and South Ossetia. Although Pro-Russia Ossetia's insistence to split from Georgia and wish to declare independence is the fuse, the United States' clandestine support to pro-U.S. Georgia and Russia's firm resistance to the United States' influence in the Caucasian region is the most dangerous factor. Nevertheless, the Untied States' global tasks are so complicated and the Caucasian region is so far away. It is unlikely that [the United States] would help Georgia to resist [South Ossetia's wish to] independence and promote unification. "The apocalypse of the South Ossetia War can not be clearer: the Olympic Games are only a stage for countries (maybe including South Korea) to confirm their international status and to promote multinational capitalism. At the most, several dramatic stories are heard occasionally, in which medium-sized or small countries' sportsmen have outstanding performances. 'Modern' Olympics are no more advanced than the 'ancient' [Olympics]. Slavery, famine, competition among big countries, wars and the Olympics happen at the same time. From the perspective of international politics, [the Olympic Games] are not worth too much expectation. ... "The reson for [DPP Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen] to make an analogy that the Beijing Olympic Games are tantamount to the Nazis' Olympics [in 1936] is simply based on her worry that the Taiwan people will become Jews in China's eyes and suffer from China's oppression, or VISIT IN ASIA; U.S.-CHINA-TAIWAN RELATIONS become the Czechoslovakia that was betrayed at Munich. And, [Chinese President] Hu Jintao would be the Nazi leader who wanted to pretend that everything was going well.....China is not like the Germany of that time which was strong enough to be the leader of Euroasia. [United States President George W.] Bush not only does not pursue isolationism, but also went to Beijing to attend a religious service. [Chinese President] Hu [Jintao] and [Chinese Premier] Wen [Jiabao] do not enjoy the uniquely-revered status that the Nazi leader did at that time. ..." ¶3. President Bush's Visit in Asia A) "Bush's Pat on the Back" The conservative, pro-unification, English-language "China Post" [circulation: 30,000] editorialized (8/9): "Bush's lecture, in fact, is not new. It's like harping on the old tune. It's interesting to note that Bush chose to make the speech public in Thailand instead of China. Obviously, he did not want to offend his host and spoil the fun he and his family are going to have in Beijing. He said earlier in Seoul that he did not believe the Olympics should be used as an occasion to criticize the host country. ... "The speech was a slap on the wrist, not in the face. Ever since President Bush decided to attend the Beijing Games last year, he has been under mounting pressure from critics at home and human rights activists abroad who urged him to boycott the games. He has to respond to his critics. "The fact is, Bush's attendance lends much prestige and respectability to Beijing. All the protests that have plagued the organizers of the games will be made irrelevant by Bush's appearance - a pat on the back of Beijing from the world's most powerful democracy. "In politics, what's important is what you do, not what you say. Bush's rhetoric doesn't mean very much compared to what he is doing. No wonder that Beijing's foreign ministry did not take President Bush's speech seriously, saying perfunctorily that human rights are China's internal affairs. ... "President Hu Jintao should be extremely gratified by Bush's presence, and pretend he didn't hear anything. Now is party time, to smile and to have fun, not to let nasty politics ruin the auspicious occasion. It is certainly inappropriate for Bush to boo the debutante at her coming out party. ..." B) "End of Olympics Test for 'Responsible PRC" The pro-independence, English-language "Taiwan News" [circulation: 20,000] editorialized (8/11): "... Nevertheless, the efforts by PRC leaders to downplay both the impact of controversy over the 'Genocide Olympics' and natural disasters brought in a rich political harvest as heads-of-state or national leaders from over 100 countries, including United States President George W. Bush, gathered in Beijing for the historical occasion. ... "Bush's statement reflected the US strategy of 'con-gaging' China (containment and engagement in tandem) to bring the Beijing regime into the international framework and incrementally transform China into a politically democratic and economically liberal country while simultaneously allowing PRC leaders shoulder the responsibility of being a great power. "However, questions abound over this approach, including doubts whether PRC leaders will transform their authoritarian part - state into a more democratic and peaceful power in line with such expectations and whether Beijing will act as a responsible emerging power in international society, especially after the Olympics. "Indeed, if a successful Beijing Olympics only makes a rising PRC more arrogant and expansionist and even less likely to respect universal values of democracy and human rights, then all major power will have to shoulder the consequence that they created. "Unfortunately, unwillingness of Bush or other world 'democratic' leaders to miss out on Friday's authoritarian extravaganza and the blanket endorsement shown to Hu and the CCP leadership by their attendance sent contradictory message, namely that the expressed concern for 'human rights' and 'peace' are merely words in the face of the dictum that 'might is right.' ... "Bush appears to be joining President Ma Ying-jeou in a tacit gamble that 'peace' in the Taiwan Strait can be maintained if Taiwan stops VISIT IN ASIA; U.S.-CHINA-TAIWAN RELATIONS striving for self-determination, but the next U.S. president as well as the Taiwan people will pay the price if their bet loses. "Instead, we believe the United States and the rest of the world democratic community will ultimately be faced with their responsibility to make more substantial efforts to promote the opening of China's political system so promote room for the Chinese people to strive for democratization and to cease sacrificing Taiwan's democracy and autonomy to the false god of appeasement." ¶4. U.S.-China-Taiwan Relations "Beijing's New Missiles Go Too Far" Stan Chiueh, an assistant coordinator for programs at the Institute of National Policy Research in Taipei, opined in the pro-independence, English-language "Taipei Times" [circulation: 30,000] (8.11): "... A successful 'area denial' strategy based on these new missiles would play a key role of denying the US the ability to prevent attacks on Taiwan. ... "The US, for its part, has imposed an unofficial arms sale freeze on Taiwan, at least until after the Olympics. "While US President George W. Bush and the State Department have been largely silent on the issue, their silence speaks volumes about the changing US relationship with China compared with Bush's previous statements that he would do 'whatever it takes' to protect Taiwan from aggression by China. "Beijing, on the other hand, has treated the US and Taiwan's efforts toward a diplomatic thaw not as gestures of goodwill deserving of reciprocation, but as their responsibilities to 'honor' commitments made to China. ... "Taking these various factors into consideration, it is evident that the latest round of missile deployment is yet another disturbing development in China's efforts to ever more successfully challenge the US over Taiwan. It is important for policymakers in Washington and Taipei to recognize the potential threats arising from China's advancing area-denial capabilities and preempt it by demanding that measures be taken to reduce the military build-up as a condition for future cooperation." YOUNG