MEDIA REACTION: U.S. ARMS SALES TO TAIWAN,

UNCLAS AIT TAIPEI 001438 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. ARMS SALES TO TAIWAN, U.S.-CHINA-TAIWAN RELATIONS ¶1. Summary: Taiwan's major Chinese-language dailies focused news coverage October 3 on a order by Taiwan's Department of HEALTH Thursday to remove from shelves more dairy products from China that were found to be contaminated with melamine; on the U.S. Senate's approval of a revised US$700 billion bailout bill Thursday; and on the probe into the alleged money-laundering case involving former President Chen Shui-bian. The centrist, KMT-leaning "China Times" in the meantime, ran a banner headline ONE page thirteen reading "U.S. Media: Arms Sales to Taiwan to Be Sent to Congress Today." ¶2. In terms of editorials and commentaries, an op-ed in the mass-circulation "Apple Daily" said that Washington froze its arms sales in order to punish Taiwan for the news leak of the "two noes" (remarks that "Liberty Times" said AIT Chairman Raymond Burghardt made in late August, which the State Department has since refuted), which was viewed by Washington as a heinous move to sow discord between Washington and Beijing. An op-ed in the pro-independence "Liberty Times" said that, given the Ma Ying-jeou Administration's pro-China practices, it seems natural that Washington would distrust Taipei and reject its arms sales to Taiwan. An op-ed in the pro-independence, English-language "Taipei Times," written by a Western commentator, called on the new U.S. administration, whether it be led by Obama or McCain, to send a clear signal to China asserting that "it will help defend Taiwan in case of a Chinese threat or attack." End summary. ¶3. U.S. Arms Sales to Taiwan A) "The United States Freezes Arms Sales to Punish Taiwan for Sowing Discord [between China and the United States]" Dr. Emerson Chang, Director of Nan Hua University's Department of International Studies, opined in the mass-circulation "Apple Daily" [circulation: 520,000] (10/3): "... Even though the Ma Administration has conveyed via many political VIPs its determination to purchase weapons from the United States, what really makes Washington take to heart is perhaps the news leak of the 'two noes.' It is likely that the authorities at the State Department felt that they had been betrayed by Taiwan, and they believe that it is a heinous crime to sow discord between China and the United States, so they decided to retaliate by freezing arms deals [to Taiwan]. The Pentagon may not be aware of what was going on, so as it stands, the Pentagon is enthusiastic about the arms sales, while the State Department has decided to put it on hold. "Should this be the case, the Ma Administration must justify the news leak to the United States if it wants to secure the arms deals before President Bush steps down. Judging from the remarks given by high-ranking State Department officials lately, Washington seems to be expecting [Taipei's action] and has yet to block entirely the possibility of arms sales. Of course the Ma Administration can ignore [Washington's expectations] and quietly wait for the change of administration in the United States. If so, perhaps Taipei should no longer keep any hope for the [approval of the] arms procurements." B) "National Security Should Take Priority over Blue and Green" Yeh Chih-chien, a student at Tamkang University's Graduate Institute of International Affairs and Strategic Studies, opined in the pro-independence "Liberty Times" [circulation: 700,000] (10/3): "Just think that in late 2006 the United States had many times sent AIT Taipei Director Stephen Young to lobby Taiwan in the hope to facilitate the arms deals between the United States and Taiwan. But what happened lately was that the arms procurements proposal had been sent to the White House, and the White House has failed to approve it. Is it really because of the incompetence of the [former] DPP administration, as claimed by the Ma Administration, which has resulted in the zero mutual trust between Taipei and Washington? "The Ma Administration should ponder whether its own policy and practice have seriously violated the mutual and common interests between the United States and Taiwan. Previously, Washington had been proactive in providing national defense weapons to Taiwan in an attempt to integrate Taiwan into the Pacific line of defense of the U.S. military. But given that the recent practice of the Ma Administration seems to demonstrate that it intends to proclaim allegiance to China, [Washington might think that] its strategic interests will eventually be ruined in the Taiwan Strait if Taiwan suddenly decides to cooperate or unify with China. Washington, as a result, will surely distrust Taiwan, and it thus seems reasonable for it to reject the arms sales to Taiwan. ..." ¶4. U.S.-China-Taiwan Relations U.S.-CHINA-TAIWAN RELATIONS "US Must Send China a Clear Signal" Gerrit van der Wees, editor of Washington-based "Taiwan Communiqu," opined in the pro-independence, English-language "Taipei Times" [circulation: 30,000] (10/3): "... The Bush administration compounded its mistakes last year and this year when it launched a veritable campaign against Taiwan's UN referendum - which was held concurrent with the presidential election in March - even with people like Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice expressing "opposition" to the referendum. What went wrong? For ONE thing, the US was preoccupied by Iraq and Afghanistan and let itself believe that it needed to accommodate China to resolve a number of other fires burning in the world: North Korea, Tibet, Burma, Iran, Sudan and Zimbabwe. China was able to capitalize on the US' desire to put out these fires, but at the same time kept them burning in order to gain more concessions from the US. "The Bush administration thus let itself be used by China to undermine democracy in Taiwan and put the future of the country in question. What is needed from a new US administration - whether it is led by Obama or his Republican rival John McCain - is a clear signal by the US that it will help defend Taiwan in the case of a Chinese threat or attack. This is in the spirit of the Taiwan Relations Act, and we should stick to it. We also need to emphasize the right of Taiwan to be a full and equal member in the international community. Any talk about only support for participation in organizations "that do not require statehood" undermines Taiwan's position and is not befitting the US - a nation that portrays itself as the leader of the democratic world. Both Taiwan and Georgia are examples of countries that have achieved democracy against great odds. If the US wants to expand democracy in the world, it needs to work harder to get these democracies into the mainstream of the international community. At the same time, it needs to convince the large - and less-than-democratic - neighbors that peace and stability can only be achieved if they let their small neighbors next door live and prosper in peace." YOUNG