MEDIA REACTION: CROSS-STRAIT TALKS

UNCLAS AIT TAIPEI 000812 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: CROSS-STRAIT TALKS Summary: Taiwan's major Chinese-language dailies focused June 11 news coverage on the talks between Taiwan's Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) and China's Association for Relations across the Taiwan Strait (ARATS),which will formally kick off Thursday; on South Korea's cabinet, which offered to resign Tuesday amid massive street protests against the import of U.S. beef; and on a Taiwan fishing boat, which sank off the Tiaoyutai islands after colliding with a Japanese frigate Tuesday. In terms of editorials and commentaries, an editorial in the pro-independence "Liberty Times" strongly demanded that Taiwan's sovereignty be asserted during the upcoming talks between SEF and ARATS. An analysis in the pro-unification "United Daily News" also urged SEF Chairman Chiang Pin-kun to express the Taiwan people's hope for 'reciprocity and dignity' during his talks with ARATS. End summary. A) "Results of [Cross-Strait] Talks Must Be Put through a Popular Vote If They Endanger Taiwan's Sovereignty" The pro-independence "Liberty Times" [circulation: 720,000] editorialized (6/11): "... In an attempt to maintain Taiwan's status as an independent sovereign nation and to safeguard the common interests of the 23 million people in Taiwan, we demand that [Straits Exchange Foundation Chairman] Chiang Pin-kun firmly stand by and defend Taiwan's sovereignty status. He must never endorse any conclusion or statement [reached with China] which secretly carries self-disparaging [wording] such as "The One China Consensus," because only the 23 million people of Taiwan have the final say about [Taiwan's] sovereignty. The process and results of the [cross-Strait] talks must also be kept transparent, and there should not be any secret deals. Should [both sides reach any agreement] that will jeopardize Taiwan's sovereignty, the Taiwan government should reject such a conclusion, or it should put the conclusion to a popular vote so as to meet the principle that says 'sovereignty lies in the hands of the people.' President Ma has emphasized more than once that Taiwan's future must be determined by the 23 million people in Taiwan. Hasn't he? B) "Challenge for Chiang Pin-kun: What to Put on the New Page of History?" Journalist Li Chih-te wrote in the pro-unification "United Daily News" [circulation: 400,000] (6/11): "... The significance of [Straits Exchange Foundation Chairman] Chiang Pin-kun's trip [for talks with China's Association for Relations across the Taiwan Strait] will certainly not be limited to signing the agreements on direct charter flights and opening Taiwan to Chinese tourists. The resumption of 'systematic negotiations' [between the two sides] is in reality the common objective pursued by both sides of the Taiwan Strait in the wake of Taiwan's presidential election in March. ... "Such a historic opportunity -- offering resumption of [cross-Strait] dialogue -- is both precious and fragile. Thus, the mission shouldered by Chiang, besides concluding the already decided agreements, also includes the heavy and major responsibility of [helping to] 'define the nature' of future talks between the two sides. Given the [amicable] climate for cross-Strait reconciliation, there should be room for Chiang to express to the Chinese leaders the Taiwan people's expectations of 'reciprocity and dignity.' If Chiang fails on this part in the very beginning [of the talks], [Taiwan] might have to pay a higher price if it wants to do it next time in the future. ... What kind of [legacy] does Chiang want to leave behind during this trip to Beijing? This is a major issue closely related to his future status in history, and it will be a key test of his wisdom." WANG