TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - CHINA-TAIWAN RELATIONS

UNCLAS TOKYO 001404 SIPDIS STATE FOR I/RF, PA/PR/FPC/W, IIP/G/EA, EAP/PD, R/MR, EAP/J, EAP/P, PM; USTR FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE; TREASURY FOR OASIA/IMI; SECDEF FOR OASD/PA; CP BUTLER OKINAWA FOR AREA FIELD OFFICE; PACOM HONOLULU FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO JA SUBJECT: TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - CHINA-TAIWAN RELATIONS ¶1. LEAD STORIES: Top stories on Thursday morning included GOJ panel recommendations on the creation of a new agency for consumer-related issues. ¶2. "China and Taiwan Should Pursue Dialogue" The liberal Mainichi editorialized (5/22): "Kuomintang (Chinese National Party) President Ma has been inaugurated as president of Taiwan.... His most pressing challenge is how to improve relations with China, which were stalled during his predecessor's eight years in office.... Talks between the Chinese Communist Party and the Kuomintang resumed after Chinese President Hu Jintao took office, and the two parties became more positive about dialogue. Beijing has welcomed the birth of the Ma administration, which opposes seeking Taiwan's independence from China. However, this honeymoon will be short-lived if the two parties continue the current status quo. President Ma should move quickly to create a framework for stable dialogue with Beijing." ¶3. "China Should Work for Cross-Strait Stability" The moderate Yomiuri's editorial argued (5/22): "The search for new direction in China-Taiwan relations has begun, as Kuomintang leader Ma has been inaugurated as Taiwan's president.... He declared during his inaugural address that he will maintain the status quo while seeking a rapid improvement of Taipei's relations with Beijing.... The status quo - neither unification nor independence - seems to be a natural choice, as it is widely supported by the Taiwanese people. China should understand and respect the will of the people of Taiwan when it begins talks with the Ma administration." SCHIEFFER