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

UNCLAS AIT TAIPEI 000857 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 ¶1. Summary: Taiwan's major Chinese-language dailies continued to focus June 18 news coverage on the dispute between Taiwan and Japan over the Diaoyutai (generally anglicized in Taiwan as "Tiaoyutai") Islands; on new developments in cross-Strait relations; and on electricity price hikes in Taiwan, slated to go into effect beginning July 1. The pro-independence "Liberty Times" ran a banner headline on page two reading "DPP Expresses Doubts about [National Security Council Secretary-General] Su Chi Proposing to the U.S. that Arms Procurements be Suspended and Thus Endangering Taiwan's Interests." ¶2. In terms of editorials and commentaries, a "Liberty Times" editorial criticized the Ma Ying-jeou administration's "base, low and contemptible manner" in dealing with the U.S. arms procurement package and cross-Strait relations. A column in the centrist, KMT-leaning "China Times" urged President Ma to maintain a balanced relationship with the United States, China, and Japan because it will benefit Taiwan's strategic interests most. A column in the pro-unification "United Daily News" recommended that the Ma administration focus on Taiwan's bid to participate in international organizations other than the United Nations, such as the World Health Organization, the World Bank, and the International Monetary Fund. End summary. A) "President Ma's Inability to Draw a Line between His Party and the Nation and His Willingness to Suffer Humiliation Have Put Taiwan in Imminent Danger" The pro-independence "Liberty Times" [circulation: 720,000] editorialized (6/18): "... The new [Ma] administration's base, low and contemptible manner of disarming itself was fully exposed in the cases of the arms procurement package and 'one China with respective interpretations.' In terms of arms procurements, President Ma announced superficially that '[Taiwan] is determined to defend its security, will have a rational defense budget and will acquire necessary defensive weaponry' in an attempt to placate popular sentiments on Taiwan. But in reality, he is scared that the U.S. arms procurement package will jeopardize his pro-China policy. As a result, there were horrifying rumors circulating that a core aide of the new administration had privately requested that the United States suspend its arms sales to Taiwan for the time being. Such a double-dealing approach has both fooled the Taiwan people and violated Taiwan's interests, putting Taiwan's security at great risk. Also, in terms of the controversy over [Taiwan's] sovereignty, it appears that the Ma administration only dares to adopt tough measures against Japan, which has been a long-time friend to Taiwan. But when it comes to China, which has deployed over a thousand missiles aimed at Taiwan and has never renounced the use of force against the island, the Ma administration only blindly curries favor with it. [Ma's practice] has in fact proved that he has put his personal political position and national identify ahead of Taiwan's security and interests. "In addition, the Ma administration claimed that the spirit of the 1992 consensus is 'one China with respective interpretations' and has proudly used it as the basis for the resumption of talks between Taiwan's Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) and China's Association for Relations across the Taiwan Strait (ARATS). But given the recent performance of the new administration, 'one China with respective interpretations' has proven to be a political scam. ... In order to meet with ARATS Chairman Chen Yunlin, President Ma even said yesterday that both sides can address each other as 'Mr. Ma' and 'Mr. Chen' - a gesture showing that self-humiliation is nothing for him as long as Chen is willing to visit Taiwan. If Ma is a civilian, no one can say anything against his decision to be addressed as Mr. Ma. But as president, Ma's status represents the Taiwan people as a whole. He must not call himself Mr. Ma, or it will not only be a move of self-disparagement but also an insult for all the Taiwan people." B) "Ma Ying-jeou Must Play the Four-Sided Chess Game Skillfully" Journalist Hsiao Hsiu-tsen wrote in a column in the centrist, KMT-leaning "China Times" [circulation: 400,000] (6/18): "Taiwan's fishing boat sank in the waters near the Tiaoyutai Islands after a collision with a Japanese frigate. The indignation triggered by the hawks in Taiwan has generated repercussions on the sensitive relationship among the United States, Japan, Taiwan and China.... Ma Ying-jeou will need to put forth some effort in order to play this four-sided chess game skillfully. Also, it requires further deliberation as to whether Ma should disclose his card [so early] by saying that he and [ARATS Chairman] Chen Yunlin can address each other as Mr. Ma and Mr. Chen when Chen visits Taiwan [in fall]. Current indications are that relations across the Taiwan Strait are getting better, and China is also striving to mend its relations with Japan. But Taiwan's relations with Japan will likely take a turn because of the controversy [over the Tiaoyutai Islands]. On the other hand, given the increasingly intimate relationship across the Taiwan Strait, Taiwan's relations with the United States have become more complicated, and as a result, U.S. arms sales to Taiwan have become bewildering. Should Washington and Japan determine that Taiwan is tilting toward China, it will have unfavorable impact on Taiwan's strategic position ... "The appropriate approach for Ma is that while reaping the harvests of cross-Strait exchanges, he should also seek to stabilize Taiwan's relations with the United States and Japan. Unless Ma believes that exchanges across the Taiwan Strait supersede the other relations, the maintenance of a balanced relationship among the four sides - the United States, China, Taiwan and Japan - should be most favorable for Taiwan's strategic interests. ..." C) "[Taiwan's] Proposal to Enter the UN Should Be Changed this Year" New York correspondent Jeromy Fu wrote in the "United Notes" column in the pro-unification "United Daily News" [circulation: 400,000] (6/18): "Cross-Strait relations have seen a great improvement since [President] Ma assumed his post. [Ma's election] has also created a long-awaited opportunity for Taiwan's bid to join the international community. In order to pursue more strategic interests in Taiwan's diplomacy, Taipei should seize this rare opportunity and adjust its tactics. [Taipei] should change its course [of diplomacy] for the upcoming 63rd United Nations General Assembly, which is due to open in September, and consider halting its efforts to enter the United Nations. "[Such a proposal] is by no means a diplomatic retreat; instead, it is to abandon 'falseness' and focus on 'pragmatism.' In other words, Taiwan should give up the method which has done no real benefit to the island but has been utilized by [its] diplomatic allies as a way of extortion in the last fifteen years. Taiwan should instead put more mental and physical effort into participating in international organizations which are more substantive, concrete and accessible, such as the World Health Organization, the World Bank, and International Monetary Fund. "In this vein, this [change of course] will not only embody the Ma administration's new thinking of 'reconciliation and truce' in foreign affairs, but is also [a way] to make concessions for the purpose of gaining greater advantages. Since [Chinese President] Hu Jintao showed flexibility during his meeting with KMT Chairman Wu Poh-hsiung by claiming that China will consider the issue of Taiwan's participation in the World Health Organization, Taipei can then reciprocate by not engaging in a diplomatic attack and a defense of its UN bid, about which Beijing cares the most, and can use it in exchange to gain a chance to join the World Health Organization. ..." YOUNG