MEDIA REACTION: U.S.-CHINA-TAIWAN RELATIONS

UNCLAS AIT TAIPEI 000023 SIPDIS 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.-CHINA-TAIWAN RELATIONS Summary: Taiwan's major Chinese-language dailies focused news coverage January 8 on Taiwan's stock price index, which nose-dived 4.1 percent Monday; and on the upcoming legislative elections and the March presidential poll. In terms of editorials and commentaries, an editorial in the pro-independence "Liberty Times" called on the United States to overhaul its cross-Strait policy as Washington's China policy was "merely cultivating a communist hegemonic power that will speak and act contrarily to itself in the end." An op-ed in the pro-independence, English-language "Taipei Times" spelled out three major reasons why China is fighting Taiwan. The article concluded by saying that "China's threats to Taiwan are thus not caused by Taiwan's efforts to seek its rightful place under the sun, but rather by geostrategic competition with the U.S." End summary. A) "The United States Must Change and Make a New Start of Its Cross-Strait Policy" The pro-independence "Liberty Times" [circulation: 700,000] editorialized (1/8): "... As a matter of fact, China's rise may not necessarily be of advantage to the United States. In terms of economics, the United States' trade deficit with China is $300 billion a year. The international page of the "Newsweek" has recently pointed out that in 2007, China's influence on global economic developments has for the first time surpassed that of the United States -- an unprecedented case since the 1930s. On the diplomatic front, no longer did people see the low-profile manner adopted by Deng Xiaoping and Jiang Zemin. Hu Jintao has been tilting toward Russia over the past year and did not hesitate to disagree with the United States in terms of issues like Iraq. He has also adopted a tougher stance toward Taiwan in the international community. ... As for the military aspect, given that China shot down a space satellite a year ago and rejected a port call in Hong Kong by the USS Kitty Hawk aircraft carrier and two minesweepers more than a month ago, the rising military hegemony of China will create disastrous consequences for the United States after all. "Since one has yet to see the benefits derived from [Washington's] China policy, what the United States has been doing was just cultivating a communist hegemonic power that will speak and act contrarily against itself in the end. Except for [former] President Ronald Reagan and certain congressional leaders, U.S. political leaders continue to persist in their errors even up to now. What's even more serious was that, when it comes to Taiwan's popular vote on its UN membership, the United States, which advocates democracy all over the world, had its Secretary of State come forth to oppose such a direct expression of public opinion. Behind the reason [cited by the United States] that [holding the UN referendum] will 'alter the status quo,' it was either [Washington's] submission to China's pressure or its double standard of bullying the virtuous and fearing the wicked. But in reality, neither reason is consistent with the United States' basic values and interests. We want to emphasize here that only when Washington changes and makes a fresh start of its troublesome and self-contradictory cross-Strait policy, can the United States win the Taiwan people's respect for it again, and the move will bring along a major influence to the Taiwan Strait, the Pacific area and even to world peace." B) "What's Really Bothering Beijing?" Gerrit van der Wees, editor at the Washington-based "Taiwan Communique," opined in the pro-independence, English-language "Taipei Times" [circulation: 30,000] (1/8): "... What is China fighting against? What is driving China's leaders in their obsession with Taiwan? When we go back in history, we see three main reasons. ... The real reason China is fighting Taiwan is because it represents a successful democracy right next door, undermining the CCP's authoritarian 'stability.' The second reason that seems to be prevalent in Chinese thinking is to 'right the wrongs' caused by two centuries of 'humiliation' at the hands of Western countries. ... The third reason for China's hardheaded attitude toward Taiwan is that it thinks Taiwan's close association with the US and the West stands in the way of China becoming a 'great power.' "The leaders in Beijing have set an ambitious course for China to become a 'superpower' along the lines of the US: wielding economic and political influence and power across the globe. For China's leaders, 'possession' of Taiwan is a key element in their geostrategic competition with the US -- and to a lesser extent in their regional competition with Japan. This is because of Taiwan's strategic location -- straddling the important sea lanes between Japan and Southeast Asia while keeping China from unfettered access to the deep oceans of the Pacific. China's threats to Taiwan are thus not caused by Taiwan's efforts to seek its rightful place under the sun, but rather by geostrategic competition with the US. This argument is made eloquently in a recent book titled 'Why Taiwan?' by Alan Wachman of Tufts University. ..." YOUNG