MEDIA REACTION: TIP REPORT, CROSS-STRAIT RELATIONS, OBAMA'S

UNCLAS AIT TAIPEI 000797 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: TIP REPORT, CROSS-STRAIT RELATIONS, OBAMA'S NOMINATION VICTORY ¶1. Summary: Taiwan's major Chinese-language dailies focused June 6 news coverage on talks between Taiwan's Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) and China's Association for Relations across the Taiwan Strait (ARATS),which will kick off next Wednesday; on President Ma Ying-jeou's remark Wednesday that the precondition for both sides of the Strait to seal a peace accord is that China remove missiles aimed at Taiwan; on Minister of Foreign Affairs Francisco Ou's green card controversy; on the Cabinet's decision to speed up construction of the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant; and on the results of the Basic Competency Test for Taiwan junior high school students. Several papers also reported on the State Department's "Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report 2008," in which Washington has placed Taiwan on a list of "Tier 2" countries for human trafficking for the second consecutive year. ¶2. In terms of editorials and commentaries, an editorial in the mass-circulation "Apple Daily" discussed the TIP report and called it a burning shame for a modern society like Taiwan. With regard to cross-Strait relations, an op-ed piece in the centrist, KMT-leaning "China Times" spelled out the major points in both Taipei's and Beijing's new strategies toward each other and toward Washington. Former AIT Chairman Nat Bellocchi also opined in the pro-independence, English-language "Taipei Times" that cross-Strait talks are a good thing. Editorials in the "China Times" and pro-unification "United Daily News," on the other hand, discussed Senator Barack Obama's nomination victory. Both articles called Obama's nomination a "historic milestone" in the U.S. history and an "enormous encouragement" for other countries. End summary. ¶3. TIP Report "[Taiwan] Even Sold Human Beings" The mass-circulation "Apple Daily" [circulation: 520,000] editorialized (6/6): "The U.S. State Department issued its annual 'Trafficking in Persons Report' two days ago, in which Taiwan remains on the Tier 2 list among the 170 countries covered. This indicated that Taiwan has yet to fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking, and that it remains primarily a destination for people trafficked for the purpose of forced labor and sexual exploitation. It is obvious that Taiwan's import and export [businesses] of human beings are still flourishing. "This is a burning shame [for Taiwan]. Respect for human beings is generally regarded as an indicator for a modern society, and judging from the report, it appears that Taiwan is a barbaric place where people still eat birds and animals raw. As a result, what really matters are: --First, This is a very embarrassing issue in the international arena. --Second, it indicated that the Taiwan government is powerless when it comes to dealing with big trans-national organized crime. --Third, it showed that Taiwan, including both its public and private sectors, is in need of humanitarianism, and is not a thoroughly modernized [society] yet. ..." ¶4. Cross-Strait Relations A) "Both Sides of the Taiwan Strait Are Starting to Launch Their Grand Strategies" Professor Edward Chen of Tamkang University's Graduate Institute of American Studies, currently a visiting scholar at University of Chicago's Department of Political Science, opined in the centrist, KMT-leaning "China Times" [circulation: 400,000] (6/6): "In his inaugural speech, President Ma Ying-jeou put forward a grand strategy for Taipei, and judging from the recent words and deeds of the leaders in Beijing, it is evident that a grand strategy for Beijing is also under deliberation. President Ma's new strategic thinking includes the following five major points: First, Taiwan views the United States as its most important ally, and as a result, Taipei's top priority is to rebuild mutual trust with Washington and to strengthen cooperation on bilateral security and trade. Second, Taiwan also regards mainland China as its most important trade and economic partner. It has thus listed the reinstatement of the mechanism for cross-Strait talks and the resumption of dialogue between Taiwan's Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) and China's Association for Relations across the Taiwan Strait (ARATS) as its top priority job. "Third, in terms of Taipei-Washington ties, Taipei is using the tempo of improved cross-Strait relations as leverage to exercise of power, and issues such as the implementation of intellectual property rights, and the import of U.S. pharmaceuticals, NOMINATION VICTORY agricultural products and weapons, are used by Taipei as bargaining chips in talks with Washington. Taipei hopes to re-open talks with Washington over the bilateral free trade agreement, to secure security protection from the United States, and to develop closer Taiwan-U.S. military cooperation. "Fourth, with regard to cross-Strait relations, Taipei is using the security and trade relations between Taiwan and the United States as support, and using the possibility of another transition of power as a tool in negotiating with Beijing. For the next stage, Taipei hopes that having engaged with Beijing in talks on more sensitive issues, such as [Taiwan's] foreign relations and politics, will help resolve the marginalization crisis the island is facing in the process of economic integration in East Asia. With Beijing's consent, Taipei hopes to become a trade partner with ASEAN and seek new breakthroughs in its participation in the international community. "Fifth, the basic operation method of Taipei's new strategic thinking is to use Taipei-Washington ties and cross-Strait relations interchangeably and have them complement one another so as to attain security protection from Washington and secure economic and trade interest from Beijing. "In response to Taipei's new strategic thinking, Beijing's new strategic ideas toward Taipei and Washington can more or less be assessed from recent words and deeds of the leaders in Beijing. First, the Beijing authorities have evidently decided to replace 'one China with respective interpretations' with the '1992 Consensus' as the new basis for both sides to resume dialogue. ... Second, Beijing obviously intends to replace 'one China' with the 'Chinese nation' as the framework for cross-Strait talks. ... Third, for its own interests, Beijing has decided to make a clear distinction between the trade talks across the Strait and talks on issues such as foreign relations and politics. ... Fourth, Beijing plans to extend the battle line of the talks on cross-Strait 'reconciliation and truce' so as to regain an upper hand [in the talks]. ... "Finally, Beijing's new strategy will be to review its previous approach of 'influencing Taipei by getting through Washington.' ... In light of imminent improvement in cross-Strait relations, smooth channels of communication between SEF and ARATS, the KMT-CCP platform serving as the first track dialogue, and diminished concern about Taiwan independence in the near future, Washington's function as a mediator has become less important than before. ..." B) "Cross-Strait Talks Are a Good Thing" Nat Bellocchi, former AIT chairman and now a special adviser to the Liberty Times Group, opined in the pro-independence, English-language "Taipei Times" [circulation: 30,000] (6/6): "... Talks between the two sides have been reopened. The initial issues - cross-strait charter flights and admitting more Chinese tourists to Taiwan - will likely be accepted by both sides and begin next month as stated by President Ma Ying-jeou. Many, especially in Taiwan, see these moves as leading to a better life. Just as many seem less sure but will wait and watch what will follow and at what cost. And quite a few others believe the changes being made are disastrous. It will likely continue this way for some time. However, as long as Taiwan can maintain itself as a democracy, its people hopefully will be able to follow the changes and express their rights when needed." ¶5. Obama's Nomination Victory A) "Will Obama Be Able to Write [a New Page in] U.S. History?" The centrist, KMT-leaning "China Times" [circulation: 400,000] editorialized (6/6): "... Even though there have been people of minority groups running for the presidency before, Barack Obama is the first black man in U.S. history who has captured the presidential nomination of a major political party. This is a development that people could hardly imagine in the past, and all the more, it is a historic milestone. Regardless of whether Obama will win the election in the future, he has marked a new page in history. Even though there is still a long distance to the ideals advocated by Dr. Martin Luther King in his 'I Have a Dream' speech, [Obama's nomination victory] has at least indicated a solid stride forward. ... "The fact that Obama has been able to overcome one difficulty after another in the nation-wide primaries indicates that U.S. society has, so far, really been thinking differently about the ethnic NOMINATION VICTORY issue. Even though there are people who still stick to traditional ideas, quite a few people are able not only to tolerate racial differences but also to go beyond the racial division and visualize a homeland for all and a common future shared among different individuals. The support for an unprecedented and even unconventional presidential candidate is the most evident expression of the people's pursuit of 'change.' ..." B) "Obama: A Vision Greater than the American Dream" The pro-unification "United Daily News" [circulation: 400,000] editorialized (6/6): "... For the United States, it will not have completed the final task left behind by the constitution of this democracy more than two hundred years ago -- namely, paying no heed to race, and fulfilling the ideal that 'all men are created equally' -- if it fails to take the big step of 'electing a black man as president.' The realization of such an 'American dream' will not only be an enormous encouragement but will also serve as a model for other countries in the world, which still suffer in their conflicts among races, religions and languages. ..." WANG